Category: Flu Vaccine

At 100 years old, Molly Ingham has been made the poster girl of a NHS campaign to highlight the importance of getting a flu jab amid concerns about high rates of infections this winter. PETER BARRON reports

A PICTURE of health, the remarkable Molly Ingham is accustomed to being in the driving seat.

As a 16-year-old 84 years ago she became one of the first women in her hometown of Darlington to learn to drive, and her skills behind the wheel were put to exceptionally good use during the war.

Serving as a District Intelligence Officer, one of her tasks was to collect officers from Darlington Railway Station, then drive them round the local area, so they could inspect bomb sites for clues about the enemy.

What she didnt know, until after the war, was that one of her VIP passengers had been none other than General Montgomery.

Now, as she prepares for her 101st birthday next month, Molly has been chosen for another important job to help steer a campaign by the Darlington Primary Care Network, aimed at promoting the importance of people getting a flu jab.

We wanted someone to help us get the message out there, and Mollys the perfect choice to be our flu vaccine role model because shes had an incredible life, and is a real star in the local community, declares Chris McEwan, a lay member of the Darlington Primary Care Network.

With an infectious smile that can light up any room, Molly lives independently in a cottage at Croft-on-Tees, and she greets nurse, Jean Rutter, like an old friend when she arrives to administer this years flu jab ahead of winter's arrival.

Jean, a practice nurse at Rockliffe Court Surgery, in nearby Hurworth-on-Tees, has been visiting Molly annually for more than ten years to make sure she has the protection of the flu jab.

Molly, Crofts oldest resident, doesnt flinch as the needle goes into her arm, and she takes a no-nonsense approach to the proceedings: The jab is there for the asking, she says. You should trust your doctor if your doctor says you should have it, then you should have it. Do as youre told and get on with it. I just take it in my stride.

And the Darlington Primary Care Network is hoping that others not just the elderly will follow Mollys example.

Flu is a respiratory illness, which can cause serious complications, and can be devastating, explains Dr Kirsty Walker, who sits on the board of the Darlington Primary Care Network, and is one of the clinical leads for the Covid-19 vaccine programme and the rollout of the flu and Covid boosters.

There are concerns that there will be an increase in circulating community infections this winter. Getting your flu vaccine is the best way of protecting yourself, and the most vulnerable in our society, from the effects of flu.

Its quick and easy to have done and tends to be well tolerated. If you are eligible for a flu vaccine, please dont hesitate to arrange an appointment.

Health officials are anticipating a worse than usual flu season this year because of a reduction in immunity resulting from low levels of flu over the past few winters.

Holly Larman, Lead Nurse for the Darlington Primary Network, has been at the heart of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, as well as supporting local people over many flu seasons.

Many people who get flu will feel well again after a few days of rest and recuperation," says Holly. "However, if you have an underlying health condition, you could end up with complications from flu, potentially resulting in a hospital stay.

To help protect yourself and loved ones, as well as to reduce strain on NHS services this winter, we strongly recommend that those who are eligible should have their flu vaccine through their GP surgery, or at pharmacies across the town.

Photographs, taken while Molly was having her flu jab, are to be used on posters and other promotional material highlighting the importance of having a flu jab, and her family are justifiably proud of her.

Whod have thought shed be a poster girl at her age! laughs her daughter, Barbara Auld. Were just glad she gets her flu jab every year. Its important to her health, and she's so special, we want her here a lot longer 100 years isnt enough!

AS well as becoming the poster girl of the flu vaccination campaign, Molly has also been busy catching up with an old friend

Back in 1936, as 14-year-old Molly Marr, she got a job as a dressmakers apprentice with a Mrs Rourk, on Victoria Road, in Darlington.

Thats where she met Mona Durbridge, 15, and little did they know they would still be friends beyond their 100th birthdays.

Their favourite part of the day at Mrs Rourks was when Whistle While You Work came on the wireless, and theyd sing along while they sewed.

I always remember the day I started, Vera Lynn was singing When I grow too old to dream, Ill have you to remember. It was our favourite song, and wed sing along to our hearts content. It was our only entertainment back then!

While Molly undertook her wartime duties as a District Intelligence Officer, Mona became an Aycliffe Angel assembling detonators for bombs in a munitions factory at Newton Aycliffe.

Mona later moved to Scotland with her husband, Fred Garbutt, but returned to Hurworth 30 years later, and her friendship with Molly was rekindled.

Sadly, when the pandemic struck, Mona moved to Cambridgeshire to live with her daughter, and the friends hadnt seen each other since then.

However, Monas family were recently taking a holiday in Northumberland, so she was able to call in to see Molly on the way, and the memories came flooding back as soon as they saw each other.

Its hard to believe that Ive known Mona for 86 years she looks as good as ever! exclaimed Molly with her poster girl smile.

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Meet the 100-year-old Darlington woman who's been made 'poster girl' of the flu jab campaign - The Northern Echo

Hi folks, its Kristen, temporarily reporting from gray and cloudyEdinburgh. This week, weve got a reader wondering if the flu vaccine can make you sick. But before we get to that ...

A friend of mine got the flu a day after receiving his flu shot. Was this a coincidence or is it possible to get sick from a flu shot? Marilyn, Portland, Oregon

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Can the Flu Vaccine Give Me the Flu? - Bloomberg

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 5, 2022

MILWAUKEE Every year, as temperatures drop and Milwaukeeans head indoors, influenza (flu) cases begin to rise. While its difficult to predict the exact timing of peak flu cases each year, the virus typically circulates heavily in fall and winter months. To protect yourself against the flu, the Milwaukee Health Department strongly encourages everyone six months and older to get their flu vaccine this fall.

During the 2021/2022 flu season, 38% of Milwaukee County residents received their flu shot. The immunization goal, set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2030 initiative, is to increase the flu vaccination rate to 70% nationwide. In an effort to reach this goal, the Milwaukee Health Department has free flu shots, available without an appointment or proof of insurance, at the Northwest Health Center (7630 W. Mill Road), Southside Health Center (1639 S. 23rd Street), and Menomonee Valley Drive-Thru (2401 W. St. Paul Avenue).

For many, the flu leaves you feeling wiped out and miserable. But for some, it is very serious and potentially fatal, said Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson. The best way to stay healthy and protect those you come in contact with is to get your annual flu shot. Taking the time to get vaccinated now can save your sick time and even save a life.

Recent studies show being vaccinated against the flu reduces the risk of flu illness by 40 to 60-percent among the overall population. While some people who get a flu vaccine still get sick, vaccination can make their illness less severe, reducing overall hospitalization rates and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions during hospitalizations.

Not only does vaccinating against influenza keep you healthy, it can protect those around you, which is especially important for people at higher risk for serious complications, including:

In addition to your annual flu vaccine, its important to take other measures to keep yourself and family healthy this flu season. Regularly cover your coughs and sneezes, wash your hands often, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and clean surfaces that may be contaminated with flu viruses. These everyday actions can help reduce your chances of getting sick and prevent the spread of germs to others if you are sick.

While flu and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, they are caused by two different viruses and require two different vaccines. Both vaccines are safe, effective, and able to be administered at the same time. Just like the COVID-19 vaccine, the flu vaccine does not inject live viruses into your body, so you cannot get the flu from the vaccine. Save time by getting the flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine or updated booster together.

In addition to the Milwaukee Health Department Clinics, many other pharmacies, healthcare providers, and local health departments also have flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines and boosters available. Visit vaccines.gov, HealthyMKE.com, or contact your local health department to find an immunization clinic near you.

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Milwaukee Health Department Urges Residents to Get Vaccinated this Flu Season - City of Milwaukee

Starting Oct. 5, Stanford faculty, staff, retirees, postdocs, and graduate and undergraduate students can receive free flu shots at flu clinics on the main campus, the Redwood City campus, SLAC, Stanford Research Park, and Hopkins Marine Station. Visit flu.stanford.edu to find out when and where flu clinics will be held.

In 2019, the School of Medicine Flu Crew helped administer flu shots to the Stanford community. (Image credit: Amanda Litty)

With more of the Stanford community returning to campus, we sat down with Dr. Rich Wittman, medical director at the Stanford University Occupational Health Center, and Dr. Jim Jacobs, associate vice provost of student affairs, executive director of Vaden Health Center, and chair of the Stanford University Public Health Steering Committee, to discuss what to expect from this coming flu season, whether its advisable to receive the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 booster simultaneously, what individuals can do to promote a healthier Stanford community.

Is it safe to get the flu vaccine and the updated COVID-19 booster at the same time? Which should you get first?

Wittman: Both the CDC and White House COVID-19 Response Team support getting both the updated COVID-19 booster and the flu shot at the same time. That said, its important for community members attending our flu clinics to know that we are only providing the flu vaccine, not COVID-19 vaccinations. People looking for the updated booster should contact their primary care provider or local pharmacies. Stanford Health Care is also offering the booster to adults and children over age 12, including students and their families, at the Neuroscience Wellness Center on campus, and at off-campus locations.

Jacobs: If you have already had your primary series and a booster for COVID-19, the recommendation is to prioritize your flu vaccination. Every flu season we provide thousands of flu vaccines to the university community and are ready to do so again this year. Its important to note, vaccination against COVID doesnt provide protection against flu or vice versa. There is no immunological overlap between the vaccines.

What kind of flu season can the Stanford community expect?

Wittman: Its always difficult to predict what we will see with flu, and there are a variety of factors that can impact the severity of the seasonal wave. What has been surprising to many over the past few years is the dramatic degree by which masking reduces the community burden of flu. Now, as many of us return to our normal routines and travel schedules, with more unmasked interactions, we can expect cases of flu-like illness to rise. This is supported by recent data from Australia, where they experienced their worst flu season in five years, with both higher numbers of cases and an earlier start to the flu season. It is unclear if this case rise may also have stemmed from a reduction in vaccination uptake among a population with vaccination fatigue or from a population with reduced natural immunity, given the low number of infections in recent years. Either way, we are best protected by getting vaccinated and masking when sick and during flu waves.

COVID-19 is still circulating. What are the differences between flu symptoms and COVID-19 symptoms?

Jacobs: There is a lot of overlap between COVID-19 symptoms and flu symptoms, including fever, upper and lower respiratory symptoms, and tiredness. The CDC has very helpful information on the similarities and differences between COVID-19 and flu.

Is it possible to have the flu and COVID-19 at the same time? If I get sick with the flu, am I at higher risk for contracting COVID-19?

Jacobs: Yes, it is absolutely possible to have the flu and COVID-19 at the same time. We have seen it on campus in our student population. Anytime you are sick, your immune system is weakened and it is easier to catch other illnesses.

When is the best time to get a flu shot?

Wittman: Any time between late September through early November is a good time to get a flu shot. Since someone is well-protected from the flu about two weeks after getting their vaccine, we time our flu clinics for October so that people can have full protection from the flu by the Thanksgiving holiday. In most years, there are a number of flu waves that occur, from as early as November to as late as March, so those who miss this vaccination window can still protect themselves by getting the shot later in the year.

In addition to getting the flu vaccine, are there other things community members can do to prevent the spread of flu on campus?

Jacobs: The good news is that we already have the tools to create a safer flu season. The same public health measures that our community has been using to prevent the spread of COVID-19 can also prevent the spread of flu: wash your hands, cough and sneeze into your elbow, and stay home when you feel sick. Wearing face masks can also help to limit the spread of disease, and are strongly encouraged. The Stanford community has adapted to many changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and on behalf of the universitys Public Health Steering Committee, I would like to express my gratitude for your efforts to keep our community healthy, which has allowed for education and groundbreaking research to continue.

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Stanford health experts answer flu vaccine FAQs - Stanford Report - Stanford University News

Roll up those sleevesagain. With experts predicting a rough flu season ahead, its more important than ever to protect your familys health.

Lets face it: after more than two-and-a-half years of pandemic living, a lot of Canadians are tired of hearing about vaccines, boosters and viruses in general. Were seeing fewer masks in public spaces and trying to navigate what living with COVID means for each of us. Flu shots may not be top of mind for many parents right now and in some cases, theyre not even on the radar.

Understandably, pandemic fatigue may influence which precautions you take (or dont take) this fall and winter. But with a drastic reduction in masking and physical distancing, viruses are circulating a lot more freely than they were this time last yearand that means its time for your family to roll up their sleeves and get the flu shot.

Children are one of the more vulnerable populations when it comes to influenza, says Dr. Natasha Collia, an emergency physician at SickKids in Toronto. Kids are back to school and activities, and we know that cases of flu are expected to rise.

Symptoms of the flu (which has several different strains) are similar to those of COVID-19 and include fever, chills, aches and pain, a cough and a sore throat. Children may experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. In severe cases, influenza in children may lead to pneumonia, dehydration, heart or neurological problems leading to hospitalization or death. Cases of the flu were dramatically lower during the height of the pandemic due to public health measures like masking and physical distancing, but theyre expected to significantly rise this season. About 12,000 Canadians are hospitalized with the flu in an average non-pandemic year, according to Health Canada, including several hundred children. Its a significant number, Collia says, given how easy it is to prevent such severe cases.

Flu shots are available to all Canadians aged six months or older, and its safe for pregnant women. Despite claims to the contrary, you cannot get the flu from the flu shot. The influenza vaccine is also available in nasal spray form, though infants and toddlers under the age of two, children who are immunocompromised, pregnant women and individuals taking certain medications must get the injectable version.

Children under the age of five are at risk of severe illness from the flu, and kids under the age of three are particularly vulnerable, Collia says. Seniors and immunocompromised individuals are also at high risk, so its important to avoid passing influenza onto grandparents and other high risk contactsthat neighbour who just underwent cancer treatment, for example, or a teacher who has an autoimmune disorder.

Its also important to remember that many hospitals are still overwhelmed. There are shortages of medication and the health care system is under strain because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, says Dr. Jennifer Kwan, a family doctor in Burlington, Ontario. Many families are finding it difficult to access basic over-the-counter paediatric medications like Tylenol or Advil, leading to unnecessary ER visits. This is especially concerning going into flu season, as scientists warn that new, more infectious COVID strains are on the way.

By protecting our families against the flu and other viruses, were doing our part to reduce the burden on healthcare workers while keeping our loved ones healthy. Dr. Kwan adds that preventative measures like wearing a well-fitting mask indoors will reduce the spread of multiple respiratory infections including influenza.

While disinformation about flu shots and vaccines in general rages on, the proven truth is that the flu shot is a simple and effective way to prevent severe illness and death for adults and children over the age of six months. Globally, its shown great efficacy, Collia says. Yes, [the flu shot] is safeand its our best form of protection.

Like any vaccine, there may be mild and manageable side effects like a fever or redness and soreness around the injection siteor if you received a nasal spray dosage of the influenza vaccine, a sore throat or runny nose. All of these side effects should clear up within a day or two, and some individuals wont experience them at all.

As soon as possible, our experts agree. Theres an easy way to remember when to get your influenza vaccine from year to year: flu before boo. Essentially, get your shot as early as possiblebefore Halloween at the latest. You want to get the shot and have your body build up resistance to the virus, and that takes about two weeks, Collia says.

And if youre booking a flu shot and a COVID-19 booster? Adults can get them simultaneously, but experts recommend that kids under the age of 12 wait two weeks between jabs. That way, if your child does experience side effects, it will be easier to pinpoint the cause.

The influenza vaccine does cover the dominant strains of flu but cannot prevent all cases. Inevitably, some kids are going to catch itand medical professionals are doing their best to prepare. Our emergency department schedules are [prepared for] back-to-school viruses, Collia says. But she also notes that educating and empowering parents in matters related to their childs health is just as important.

So, when should parents seek medical attention? If your child is having trouble breathing or working hard to breathe at any point, describing severe muscle pain or refusing to walk, appearing dehydratednot making tears or not peeingor has a seizure, Collia says, consult a doctor. (She adds that if your child is under 12 weeks and has a fever, you should always take them to the ER.) Other red flags include a cough that improves but then acutely worsens. Having this information can help parents navigate [viruses] and alleviate that fear and frustration as well.

The real message here: dont let it get to that point. If you protect [your health] ahead of time, it allows for less disruption caused by illness and less disruption to family dynamicslike [missing] work or schooland it also prevents severe disease, Collia says. After the last two-and-a-half years, less disruption sounds good to us.

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We know you have vaccine fatigue, but this is not the year to skip the flu shot - todaysparent.com

Photo: Flu Vaccine by CDC via Unsplash

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah Summit County Health Department announced on October 6 that it will host several flu and bivalent COVID-19 vaccine clinics around the county starting October 11.

The vaccine clinics will be open from 11 a.m. 5:30 p.m. at the Coalville and Kamas Health Centers and from 8-11 a.m. and 1-5 p.m. at the Park City Instacare. You can find details about walk-ins and appointments here.

Depending on insurance, regular flu shots cost a baseline of $25 for adults and $10 for children six months to 18 years old. For those over 65 years old, high-dose flu shots are available for $64, and pneumonia vaccines are available for $125. The latest COVID-19 boosters are also available at these locations.

According to the CDCs website, flu vaccines generally reduce flu illness by 40-60% annually among the overall population. Vaccine effectiveness generally varies depending on who is vaccinated and which type of influenza people contract, but are generally advised as they protect people from potentially life-threatening complications that can arise from influenza. Flu vaccination also helps keep people who contract the flu out of hospitals, which is especially important as COVID-19 hospitalization remains a problem for hospitals across the country.

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Summit County to host flu vaccine clinics around the county this fall - TownLift

The flu seasons of 2020 and 2021 were mild, mostly thanks to measures people took against COVID, such as wearing masks, social distancing and using copious amounts of hand gel. 2022, however, looks like a whole different kettle of fish.

The southern hemisphere where flu season starts has been hit hard. Australia, for example, has had the worst flu season in five years, and it has been hammered by COVID, too. This year has been the first real opportunity for both viruses to circulate freely as all COVID restrictions have now been lifted.

Its strongly advised that people in the UK get the flu vaccine and ensure they are up to date with their COVID vaccine boosters. Scientists arent sure how these viruses will dovetail, but evidence suggests that being infected with both viruses simultaneously greatly increases the risk of severe disease and death.

About 33 million people in the UK are eligible for a free flu vaccine, including those aged 50 or older, pregnant women, people in residential care, and frontline healthcare workers. There is also a nasal-spray vaccine for children aged two years and older, with many vaccine rollouts delivered in schools.

Flu usually has an R number between one and two, meaning that, on average, each infected person will infect one or two people. This level of flu transmission is significant.

In the UK, across the winters of 2017-18 and 2018-19, there were 46,215 and 39,670 flu-related hospital admissions respectively. And, as of early September 2022, there were 590 daily hospital admissions with COVID, with those numbers on the rise.

NHS trusts are usually under greater pressure during the winter. Yet already in the autumn, several health services report that their capacities are limited. Derriford Hospital in Plymouth had waits of up to 72 hours for admission from A&E, while the East of England Ambulance Service recently came close to declaring a major incident.

Nottingham Hospitals Trust declared a critical incident on September 29. The legacy of Boris Johnsons pandemic governance, with higher case and death rates than most comparable countries, has created further pressures across the health service, including hospitals and primary care. This does not bode well heading into a winter when there is a risk of high levels of both flu and COVID.

Despite the continuous circulating of new variants and sub-variants, the COVID vaccine continues to provide high protection against severe disease and death. The strains of flu also change each winter and are, to some extent, unpredictable. So flu vaccine effectiveness is variable, but typically between 40% and 60%.

Data from Australia provides an early estimate of around 40% effectiveness from their 2022 flu season. However, this is still an important level of protection, with hospitalisation rates among vaccinated people typically much lower than in unvaccinated populations.

The Australian data is important for people in the UK and elsewhere in the northern hemisphere. Surveillance agencies look at circulating virus types in the southern hemisphere, and use that data to decide the likely impact in their own countries, including the manufacturing of the flu vaccine. Australian virology reports show the vast majority of their laboratory-confirmed cases were a strain of influenza called H3N2.

The UK Health Security Agency says this years flu jab is a good match for this strain.

With the added pressures already on the NHS, a high vaccine uptake will be important. But wearing a mask can also help reduce the spread of flu and COVID. Meeting outdoors or opening a window to improve ventilation can also help to prevent new chains of transmission and lessen the likelihood of infecting vulnerable people.

The UK winter of 2022-23 will be a very good time to try to stay well, leaving some healthcare capacity for emergencies and vulnerable people.

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Flu is set for a big comeback now COVID restrictions are lifted heres what you need to know - theconversation.com

The Sheridan VA Medical Center announced their team will be conducting a drive-thru flu vaccination clinic beginning at 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, in front of Building 71, the primary check-in building on campus.

Opportunities to receive a vaccination will also be recurring in-clinic. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Tuesday, patients may stop in for any vaccineflu, Covid, TDAP, Shingles or pneumonia. Patients may also stop into the clinic from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursdays, for any vaccine except Covid.

In addition to the standard flu vaccine, the high-dose vaccine will be available for patients 65 years and older. Veterans will need to have their VA identification on-hand and the medical center recommends wearing a shirt with easy access to the shoulder.

The VA Medical Center is alerting veterans who have a fever, cough or any other coronavirus symptoms the day of their shot, should schedule an appointment with their care team at a later date.

Why get a Flu Shot now?

According to the VA Medical Center, vaccination to prevent flu and its potentially serious complications is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications, but it takes approximately two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body, so the sooner the vaccination, the better. Also, by getting a flu vaccination, veterans will be less likely to spread flu to othersevery year hundreds of thousands of Americans are hospitalized with the flu.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone six months or older should get a yearly flu shot. Flu can be serious among young children, older adults and those with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, heart disease or diabetes.

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Sheridan VA offering drive-thru flu vaccinations Sheridan Media - Sheridan Media

NEW YORK (PIX11) Flu cases spread across New York earlier than usual this year, health officials warned Wednesday.

Though flu season usually runs from October through May, influenza was already considered widespread across the state as of Wednesday, according to the New York Department of Health. Theres been an early and aggressive spread of flu, Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett said.

I urge all New Yorkers to protect themselves and their family and friends by getting a flu vaccine as soon as possible, she said.

Bassett said the flu shot is the best protection against serious infection. Experts advise getting it as soon as possible. People can also get COVID booster shots at the same time.

There have been 596 laboratory-confirmed cases for the week ending Oct. 1, according to the state. By Oct. 9 of 2021, only 150 cases had been confirmed.

Flu cases have been reported in 44 of New Yorks 62 counties as of Oct. 3, officials said. The New York City area, the Capital District and Central New York are reporting the highest number of cases.

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Early and aggressive spread of flu in NY this year, health officials warn - WUTR/WFXV - CNYhomepage.com

The flu vaccine is updated every year to match the specific strains of the influenza virus experts predict will be most prominent during flu season. To determine this, the World Health Organization Global Influenza Surveillance Response System, made up of 144 influenza centers in 114 countries, conducts year-round surveillance to determine which flu strains are actively circulating around the globe.

Twice a year, representatives from five of the top participating centers come together to review data and recommend which strains to include in the upcoming flu vaccine.

These flu experts try to anticipate what the dominant strains are going to be nine months down the road, explains William Schaffner, MD, professor of infectious disease at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville. They're often on target, but on some occasions, the flu virus that circulates varies from the vaccine. How effective the influenza vaccine is changes from year to year too.

In other words, flu virus experts have to base their recommendations on a moving target, which means the flu vaccine cant be perfect. Even so, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most recent research suggests the flu shot lowers the risk of illness from 40 to 60 percent.

As for the specific influenza strains included in the flu vaccine, for the 2022-2023 season, there are four: two influenza A strains and two influenza B strains. In previous flu seasons, most vaccines protected against only three strains.

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Consumer's Guide to Flu Vaccines - Everyday Health