The New York State Department of Health has suspended its emergency regulation requiring hospital-based healthcare personnel to receive flu vaccinations. In the workplace setting, voluntary vaccination programs must be combined with effective infection control measures to protect both workers and patients.
Voluntary vaccination programs can increase acceptance rates among healthcare personnel. Successful models provide targeted education, ease of access, and various incentives, as described in this report from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
Immunization is the best way, however, to reduce your chances of getting influenza. The CDC website offers comprehensive information about who should be vaccinated and vaccine safety, which is summarized below.
Vaccine Contraindications | Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
Unless you have one of the contraindications or precautions listed below, it is recommended that you get a flu vaccination every year. This flu season, that includes the vaccination for the novel H1N1-A virus. This is especially true if you have underlying illnesses or conditions that make it more likely for you to develop serious complications from the flu.
No. The flu shot does not contain a live virus and cannot cause infection. The nasal spray contains a live virus that is attenuated (weakened) and cannot cause the flu.
The H1N1 vaccine has been prepared and tested in the same way as the seasonal flu vaccine. It was not possible to include it in the usual flu vaccine because it emerged last spring in the northern hemisphere, after the normal flu season had ended. The H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal vaccine are equally safe.
Not always. The vaccine is usually effective, but occasionally the vaccine is poorly matched to the strain of flu that is circulating through the population. The vaccine constantly mutates, which is why people need a flu shot every year.
The vaccine is contraindicated for individuals who have had a severe allergic reaction to previous influenza vaccines, eggs, or thimerosol. It also is not recommended for people who have previously had Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Persons with moderate-to-severe acute febrile illness usually should not be vaccinated until their symptoms have abated. Consult with your physician or nurse practitioner if you are concerned about whether you should receive the flu vaccine.
It is recommended that pregnant women receive the TIV flu shot without preservatives rather than the LAIV nasal spray. Consult your physician, nurse midwife, or nurse practitioner if you are concerned about the effects of the vaccine on you or your unborn child. Vaccination is recommended for pregnant women because they are at higher risk for complications if they get influenza.
Universal precautions should always be followed when giving immunizations and medications. People may experience sneeze or cough when receiving LAIV, so use precautions to prevent accidental or excessive exposure to the vaccine.
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Almost all people who receive influenza vaccine have no serious side effects. Normal reactions to the trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) flu shot, which generally occur within two days, can include soreness, redness, irritation, or swelling at the injection site; low-grade fever; and muscle aches.
In children, side effects from live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) nasal spray can include runny nose, wheezing, headache, vomiting, muscle aches, and fever. In adults, side effects from LAIV can include runny nose, headache, sore throat, and cough.
More serious adverse reactions include high fever; weakness; behavioral changes; and difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a rapid heartbeat, or dizziness. If you experience a serious adverse reaction:
Reporting serious reactions, even if you’re not sure whether the vaccine caused them, adds to the databases available to researchers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration.
As of July 1, 2005, people who believe they have been injured by the flu shot can file a claim for compensation through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). This is a federal program operated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). VICP helps pay for the care of individuals who have had serious reactions to a vaccine covered by the VICP. A petition must be filed with VICP to start a claim for compensation. For more information call 800.338.2382, or visit HRSA online.
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