Flu vaccine can save lives

Dear Readers,

Ricardo, who is 66 years old, says that the flu vaccine didn't help him as he has just passed through the worst flu he has ever experienced, with headaches, eye socket pain, fever, wheezing, chest pain, finger pain, diarrhoea, and weakness. And all this is despite taking the flu vaccine in October. He took the vaccine because he also experienced a bad bout of the flu last year, but it didn't work! He thinks he might as well take his chances with the flu virus.

If you are over 65 years old, under five years old, or immuno-compromised in any way, it's a very good idea to take the flu vaccine every year. All information shows that those groups of people usually suffer with more flu symptoms than all other groups of people and the possibility of hospitalisation and even death is higher.

Statistics also show that this group receives substantial benefit from being vaccinated against the influenza. There are several factors that influence any individual's response to the flu vaccine, but recent studies show that taking the flu vaccine will generally reduce the incidence of the flu by between 40 and 60 per cent during the flu season. How well any flu vaccine works to prevent flu will depend on a number of factors, such as how well the designed flu vaccine matches the characteristics of the flu virus presently causing flu in our communities. Sometimes this match isn't as good, as scientists decide on the contents of any flu vaccine based on any number of characteristics and statistics.

During years when the vaccine components don't match well with the actual vaccine circulating in the community, the benefits gained by being vaccinated may not be much. When the match is good, substantial benefits are accrued from the prevention of significant amount of illness, suffering and death.

The flu can be a really serious disease leading to hospitalisation and worse. Getting vaccinated is always the safer choice. Who knows if Ricardo may not have ended up in hospital without the vaccine! He should continue to get his flu vaccine every year for sure.

Ways to avoid getting the flu:

n Avoid large crowds when possible, and stay away from people who are obviously coughing.

n Wash your hands regularly to rid them of germs they may have encountered on a desk, door handle, or other surface.

n Clean and disinfect all communal surfaces often.

n Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when you cough or sneeze and insist that those around you do the same. Your hand alone is not sufficient to cover up; use the sleeve of your shirt if you must. Throw away the used tissues.

n Germs spread when you touch a contaminated surface then touch that same hand to your face. Do not share pens, pencils or eating utensils, and ensure that your children don't do this at school.

n Strengthen your immune system by eating grains, vegetables, fruits, fish and chicken. Get enough sleep and exercise.

n Take vitamin C and other anti-oxidant vitamins regularly.

n Get the flu shot.

n If you have the flu, stay home to prevent spreading it to colleagues at work and their families by association! Keep sick children at home. Rest, drink fluids, and take paracetamols and similar medications for fever and a sore throat. Take cold and cough syrups as needed, as well as vitamins. If the symptoms don't show improvement within a few days, please see your doctor.

Some benefits of taking the flu vaccine:

n Taking the flu vaccine prevents millions of flu-related doctor's visits across the world every year.

n When the vaccine is a good match for the flu in the community, it can reduce the risk of getting the flu by 40 to 60 per cent.

n Flu vaccination reduces the risk of hospitalisation from the flu.

n Vaccination from flu prevents severe illness in persons with chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, and HIV.

n Maternal flu vaccination during pregnancy can protect babies from getting the flu after birth.

n Flu vaccine can save children's lives.

n Vaccination reduces the severity of the illness in people who still become infected with the virus after obtaining the vaccine.

n By getting vaccinated, you can protect the rest of your family from getting the flu and being sick, especially the very young, the old, and those with chronic illnesses.

If you are over 65 years old, under 5 years old or immuno-compromised in any way it's a very good idea to take the flu vaccine every year.