Category: Flu Vaccine

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

Can you get the COVID booster and flu shot at the same time? For Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, the answer is simple.

I really believe this is why God gave us two arms one for the flu shot and the other one for the COVID shot, he quipped during a recent briefing.

As public health officials prepare for a possible rebound of the coronavirus this fall and winter, theyre also urging people to get vaccinated against the familiar, if recently quiet, foe of influenza.

But busy residents need not fret about booking a pair of appointments. Jha, along with other officials and experts, say its perfectly fine to roll up each of your sleeves during the same visit.

Healthcare providers should offer flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same visit to people who are eligible, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Getting both vaccines at the same visit increases the chance that a person will be up to date with their vaccinations, the CDC said in a presentation.

The agency suggested administering each shot in separate limbs.

Other vaccines are fine, too, unless theres a specific reason not to administer them at the time of the healthcare visit.

Providers should offer all vaccines for which a person is eligible at the same visit, the CDC said.

Flu shots are now available for everyone age 6 months or older. Residents can visit Californias MyTurn platform to find a walk-in clinic or to book an appointment starting Thursday.

Getting the flu vaccine was an annual event for many Californians but, like most aspects of life, the practice has been upended and interrupted during the pandemic. However, because of other interventions in place to combat COVID-19, the flu has been relatively dormant.

Influenza mostly disappeared the past two winters, but it returned this past spring of 2022 when we stopped wearing masks, Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said. Because we anticipate more flu in the upcoming months, we do encourage everyone to take advantage of the many vaccination sites where youre going to be able to get your flu vaccine and your COVID fall booster at the same time.

Both shots, she added, provide protection against illness severity, increasing the likelihood of fewer disruptions for you and your family this fall and winter.

Some officials have likened the new COVID-19 boosters to the flu shot. Just as officials formulate the flu vaccine in an attempt to target that years version of the virus, the updated boosters are designed against both the original coronavirus strain and the Omicron subvariants that have dominated the U.S. in recent months, including BA.5.

Were all familiar with the annual updating of influenza vaccines every year. Scientists monitor flu strains around the world, and this data is used to inform how the annual vaccine should be updated, Ferrer said earlier this month. The same concept was used in updating the COVID booster.

Moving forward, some officials have speculated its possible residents might receive annual COVID-19 booster doses, much as they do flu shots.

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Is it safe to get COVID booster and flu shot at the same time? What experts say - Los Angeles Times

Computer generated 3D model, showing a cross-section of the green RNP spirals, blue hemagglutinin, ... [+] red neuraminidase, and purple m2 ion channels that constitute the structure of the Influenza A Virus (Orthomyxovirus family) image courtesy CDC/Douglas Jordan, 2009. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

This is the second of two articles on universal flu vaccines, both of which are part of a larger series on influenza vaccines and influenza treatments. Previous articles can be read here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.

For many years there has been an obvious need for an influenza vaccine that neutralizes not just one strain, but many different strains across both major influenza types. This includes providing protection against as-yet undiscovered strains. Current vaccines have not achieved this, requiring yearly administration to keep pace with viral mutations. But over the last decade there has been great effort to develop such a universal flu vaccine, with much of it now beginning to pay off.

Two Targets Are Better Than One

The key problem so far has been that flu vaccines provide a potent but highly specific immune response; they work decently well, but only against those strains that have been included in the vaccine. Should a new strain of influenza appear, or one that scientists hadnt predicted, then vaccine efficacy is left seriously jeopardized. To combat this issue, scientists have begun looking towards highly conserved regions of the viral genome. These are regions that are shared across many strains and that only very rarely mutate.

Two areas of the influenza virus particle are particularly promising targets: the stem portion of the influenza surface protein hemagglutinin (HA), and the extracellular region of the matrix-2 protein (M2e). Both of these proteins play a crucial role in viral replication M2 helps untether the viral RNA from the surrounding viral membrane, and HA stem (HA2) creates the opening through which the RNA can then enter the host cell cytoplasm. Antibodies that bind to and block either of these proteins impair viral replication. Here, we describe a new vaccine candidate developed by Subbiah et al. that combines these two attractive targets into a single, highly engineered protein.

Design of the Antigen: Perfecting the Headless HA Protein

Interest in the stem portion of HA has its roots in the discovery of human broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) that target the region. This discovery revitalized hopes of developing universal flu vaccines by giving researchers an entry point for the production of a universal antigen. Since the full HA protein only rarely elicits broadly neutralizing antibodies, various approaches have emerged to expose and properly present the stem domain to our immune system. One of the more successful strategies involves knocking off the HA head domain while ensuring structural stability of the leftover HA stem.

But this is easier said than done. The head of the HA protein stabilizes the prefusion protein resulting in a tightly coiled triplex of three proteins. Broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies only recognize this tightly coiled triplex and are lost once the fusion process commences or the head of the HA protein is removed.

To perfect the hemagglutinin portion of their antigen, Subbiah and colleagues drew upon previous research by Impagliazzo et al. and Yassine et al. Both groups managed to engineer stable, headless HA stem antigens called mini-HAs that exhibited structural and antibody binding properties similar to full-length HA. Antibodies produced in response to these mini-HAs managed to protect against a wide range of HAs in mice and nonhuman primates.

Figure 1 outlines the various stages of Impagliazzo et al.s design, culminating in the creation of a stable, headless "mini-HA" stem that retains all the relevant neutralizing binding sites. Figure 2 outlines the design stages of Yassine et al, who achieved great minimization of the HA protein, ultimately succeeding in having the stem domain contribute 94% of the total surface area of their antigen.

FIGURE 1. (A) The mini-HA design strategy is described in five stages, each characterized by ... [+] specific modifications leading to selection of the best construct for each stage. Key modifications for each stage are schematically depicted and color-coded. (B) Ribbon mini-HA model (from PDB ID 1RD8) with color-coded modifications (per stage, as in Fig. 1A) and putative N-glycosylation sites (CG1-3, CG7; taupe).

FIGURE 2. (A) Proggressive removal of the HA head domain to expose as much of the HA stem domain as ... [+] possible without losing structural stability. (B) Percentage of HA stem contribution to total antigen surface area: full HA protein (left), Gen4 of modified headless HA antigen (center), and Gen6 of modified headless HA antigen.

Forming a Stable Trimer and Preventing Protein Aggregation

Influenza hemagglutinin is naturally a trimeric molecule, meaning it is composed of three distinct hemagglutinin proteins bound together. In order to accurately mimic this three-part structure, Subbiah et al. excluded the C-terminus of the HA stem portion and instead replaced it with the foldon sequence of a virus that infects bacteria.

When added to the end of a monomer that has a propensity to dissociate, the foldon sequence stabilizes it and allows it to form a trimer (Figure 3). Failure to do so may lead the headless HA stem antigen to lose its structure, and by extension its epitope sites. If our antibodies cannot bind to the stem, they cannot learn about its structure and thus cannot take on the specific shape needed to protect us from future reinfection.

FIGURE 3. (A) A trimeric fiber loses its structure and breaks down into unfolded monomers, leading ... [+] to irreversible protein aggregation. (B) The addition of the foldon sequence allows monomers to return to their trimeric structure, preventing loss of structure and subsequent protein aggregation.

The researchers also added specific point mutations along HA1 head and HA2 stalk to prevent protein aggregation issues. All of the mutations were in regions outside of those recognized by broadly neutralizing antibodies. Each one of the mutations was in a long helical region with a tendency to self-aggregate. By changing the amino acids in these stretches, they substantially reduced non-specific aggregation and instead favored the stable form of the protein.

In addition to this, they mutated a cysteine residue and replaced it with a serine residue. Again strengthening the stability of the protein and minimizing the chance of any unwanted disulfide bonds from forming.

Addition of M2e

To broaden the neutralization of their antigen, and increase its potency, the researchers added in two identical segments of the M2 channel protein. The segments they chose correspond to a 23 amino acid-long sequence that encodes the epitopes for the extracellular region of the protein. This area protrudes from the viral membrane, allowing it to be bound by neutralizing antibodies.

Crucially, M2e has previously been shown to confer cross-group immunity. Influenza A viruses are split up into two groups according to phylogenetic differences in their HA protein. Usually immunity against group 1 HAs (H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9, H11, H12, H13, H16, H17, H18) does not confer immunity against group 2 HAs (H3, H4, H7, H10, H14, H15). This means that infection by an influenza A/(H3N2) virus, for example, generally does not confer protection against a strain of influenza A/(H1N1).

Finally, Subbiah et al. connected the various domains of the M2e-H3 construct using flexible linkers, which are small amino acids that function like bungee cords; they keep the proteins tethered together but are flexible enough not to interfere with the folding process.

The full genetic sequence of the M2e-H3 antigen can be seen in Figure 4, and the structure of the antigen as compared to wild type hemagglutinin can be seen in Figure 5.

FIGURE 4. M2e-H3 stalk vaccine construct with flexible and soluble linker sequences (AAAGGAA; ... [+] GGGGS; GSA; GSAGSA; QGTGG).

FIGURE 5. (LEFT) A schematic diagram of the H3 HA protein, derived from the H3N2 influenza virus. ... [+] (RIGHT) A schematic of the chimeric M2e-H3 stalk protein, with stabilizing point mutations marked in violet.

Production and Purification of the Antigen

For ease of purification of the antigen, the researchers added a histidine tag (6xHis) to the N-terminal of the M2e-H3 stem domain. A histidine tag is made up of a DNA sequence that encodes six to nine histidine residues. These histidine residues bind to several different types of immobilized metal ions. So, once a protein has been His-tagged it can be easily identified and separated from other proteins by exposure to such metal ions. The histidine tag can then be removed from the protein or it can be retained, either way it does not affect the antigenicity of the protein.

Next, Subbiah et al. synthesized a codon-optimized gene encoding the M2e-H3 stem protein. This gene is then inserted into escherichia coli (E.coli) for quick and easy mass production.

Does it Retain Antigenicity?

After extraction and purification, Subbiah et al. began testing the M2e-H3 stalk molecule for its ability to be recognized by antibodies, known as antigenicity. They exposed the chimeric molecule to antibodies known to target the stem portion of the hemagglutinin protein as well as antibodies known to target M2e; in both cases they witnessed high reactivity. The scientists recorded similar results from antisera blood samples from mice that had previously been infected with an influenza virus and had built up a corresponding antibody response. Importantly, the construct retained its antigenicity when exposed to influenza A viruses belonging to different HA groups. And, even after storage at 122 degrees Fahrenheit for 11 days, the antigen continued to elicit strong antibody reactivity, suggesting solid thermostability.

Animal Models

Having confirmed that the M2E-H3 stem protein can be recognized and bound by antibodies, Subbiah and colleagues moved on to vaccination trials. Often, vaccines based on viral proteins instead of inactivated or attenuated viruses require an adjuvant to help stimulate a stronger immune response, and by extension, better protective efficacy. For their experiments, the researchers used a particularly strong adjuvant similar to the AS01 liposome adjuvant licensed for use in herpes Zoster vaccination. This is a double-edged sword: the adjuvant ensures a quick immune response, but because of its strength, it also comes at the cost of side effects. Although the side effects are not much cause for concern headache, fever, chills, and so on they are uncomfortable all the same. Using a different delivery platform, like mRNA technology, may help circumvent these issues in the future.

The adjuvanted M2e-H3 stalk vaccine was administered to mice as two doses, a primary vaccination followed by a boost two weeks later. Following the first dose, there was a noticeable increase in antibodies specific to M2e and HA stem regions. Addition of the boost further increased antibody titers 10 fold. Antisera built up in response to M2e-H3 exposure managed to protect against both group 1 and group 2 influenza A viruses. Subbiah et al. suspect this might be explained by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), a mechanism of immune defense whereby effector cells recognize antibodies stuck to antigens and actively break down the foreign threat. Their suspicions were proven right by western blotting, which showed that M2e antibodies, in particular, raised ADCC activity 20 fold.

To compare protection against an M2e only vaccine, the group of researchers designed another chimera protein combining M2e fused with the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. When exposed to a lethal dose of influenza A/HK/H3N2 virus, all of the mice inoculated with M2e-H3 stem survived, suffering only moderate body weight loss of around 10%. On the other hand, none of the mice inoculated with the M2e-only vaccine survived the infection (Figure 6).

FIGURE 6. Protective efficacy comparison of M2e-H3 stalk and M2e only vaccines after A/HK/1968 H3N2 ... [+] (12xLD50, 1.4102 EID50) virus challenge.

Along with a robust antibody response, M2e-H3 stalk vaccination also triggered a strong T cell response. Where antibodies can bind to pathogens to prevent infection, T cells are in charge of getting rid of already-infected cells, curbing the spread of the virus. Indeed, the vaccine significantly reduced the amount of virus in the lungs of infected mice within a span of six days. Depleting T cell levels in vaccinated mice before exposing them to a lethal challenge with influenza A H7N9 produced twice as much weight loss (12%) than in mice that had not been depleted of their T cells.

Implications

The work by Subbiah et al. acts as a clear proof of concept: using M2e and HA stalk regions as antigens can stimulate broad neutralizing immunity. Crucially, this immunity should hold up to new strains, as it targets those viral regions that only very rarely mutate. Although their work focused specifically on influenza A viruses, there is no reason to think that, given enough time and research, we wont be able to produce a truly universal influenza vaccine.

The progress that has been made is in very large part due to the development of monoclonal antibodies that are broadly neutralizing against a wide array of influenza strains. These antibodies have provided a key guide to the design of vaccine antigens to help elicit immune responses with a similar breadth of neutralizing capabilities. This elegant work that has developed over the past ten years may prove to be a reliable framework for the development of similarly universal vaccines to some of our most vexing problems, including HIV and SARS-CoV-2. Such attempts are already underway for Covid-19, and proved to be the missing part of the puzzle for the design of effective vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

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Is A Universal Influenza Vaccine One Shot For All Strains On The Horizon? - Forbes

Influenza, more commonly known as flu, is a highly contagious viral disease. The influenza virus attacks with more intensity during the winter months. Symptoms can be mild, but the virus can also cause severe illness and even death, particularly for those in the high-risk groups (the very young, people over 55, those with an underlying health condition, those who are pregnant, overweight or who have a weakened immune system). Symptoms usually last between three and seven days, although in some instances they can persist for several weeks.

The virus spreads through water droplets, especially when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or via contaminated hands and surfaces.

Hygiene measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as washing your hands, coughing into your elbow and keeping your distance, are good habits to keep up, as they are effective in helping to reduce the chance of contracting and/or spreading the flu virus.

The vaccine remains the best way to protect yourself against flu, to prevent the spread of the disease and to reduce its severity, in particular if youre part of a high-risk group.

An international panel of experts carefully reviews the strain composition of the vaccine annually based on data from epidemiological centres and then makes recommendations to countries accordingly as to what strains they might wish to include in their national flu vaccine programme.

It takes about two weeks for an adequate immune response and protection to develop, and immunity tends to decline over the course of a few months. It is thus important to get a flu vaccine every year.

The flu vaccine will be available free of charge to anyone working on the CERN site, including contractors. Practical details of this years flu vaccination campaign, which will run from 17 October until 11 November, can be found at https://hse.cern/fluvaccination.

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Further information:General information on Influenza | WHOGeneral information on Influenza in Switzerland | OFSP (available in French only)

Vaccination in France | Ameli (available in French only)Vaccination in Switzerland | HUG (available in French only)

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The flu season is upon us: the CERN vaccination campaign begins - CERN

For immediate release

WAYLAND Director Julia Junghanns and the Wayland Health Department wish to remind residents of this weeks free flu clinic for seniors.

The seniors-only drive-thru clinic will be held Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the old Whole Foods parking lot at Wayland Village Plaza, 297 Boston Post Road. Attendees shouldenter the plaza through the Pelham Island Road entrance.

Please note that pre-registration is required. Interested seniors should register here. Those who need help registering should call the vaccination hotline at 508-358-6805 and leave a message, and someone will call back to assist.

The injectable, seasonal quadrivalent Influenza vaccine will be available, as well as the high-dose influenza vaccine, which is authorized for individuals aged 65 and up.

Residents are asked to bring all insurance and Medicare cards to the clinics.

The best way to protect against flu and its potentially serious complications is with a flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that almost everyone age six months and older get a seasonal flu vaccine each year, ideally by the end of October. As long as flu viruses are circulating, vaccination should continue throughout flu season, which may continue into January or later.

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Wayland Health Department Reminds Residents of Upcoming Senior Flu Clinic - John Guilfoil Public Relations LLC

SALT LAKE CITY The CDC approved the COVID-19 bivalent boosters that target the most recent omicron variants on September 1. Since then, tens of thousands of Utahns have rolled up their sleeves.

Doctors from University of Utah Health Monday reminded everyone that they should also get vaccinated for the seasonal flu, which could be a bigger threat this year.

Transmission of COVID in Utah is low right now, and the flu has yet to arrive. Doctors urged everyone to protect against both, and now is a good time to get those shots.

We are likely to have another wave this fall, saidDr.Hannah Imlay, an assistant professor of internal medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Utah Health.

COVID is down, but not out. Doctors with the University of Utah pointed out thatCOVID-19 cases have typically increased during the fall and winter.

The updated booster provides optimal protection against current COVID strains and protection against severe COVID from the original strain.

The hope is that they provide more specific protection while maintaining good protection against the ancestral strain and more specific protection against the most recent strains, Imlay said.

Since September 1, when the CDC approved the bivalent booster, more than 71,000 Utahns, 12 and older, have received it. That includes nearly 33% of those ages 18-49 and 64% of those ages 50 and older.

This is supposed to be a new prime of your immune system and a new prime against new variants for your immune system, Imlay said.

According to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, 285,000 booster doses have been delivered or shipped to Utah, and people can mix and match with Pfizer and Moderna.

They can even get their seasonal flu shot at the same time if they dont mind having two sore arms at the same time.

Thats what Dr. Kencee Graves did.

Bottom line: get them. If you separate them, thats OK. If you get them together, thats OK. Just get them, said Graves, associate professor of internal medicine and Chief Medical Officer for Inpatient Health.

Australia just finished a bad flu season during their winter, which is typically a good indicator of the kind of flu season the United States can expect.

That is what makes us, here in the US, a little concerned about how severe the flu season could be, Graves said.

The US did not have much of a flu season each of the last two years, because people were taking precautions to prevent COVID which also limited the spread of other respiratory illnesses.

Its recommended that you get a flu vaccine in September or October with a deadline generally of Halloween, October 31, she said.

Regardless of how many COVID boosters a person got after the primary series of shots, the CDC recommendation now is to get the bivalent booster at least two months after the last dose of primary shots, or the most recent booster.

The CDC also said if youve had a recent COVID infection you might want to wait three months until after that infection to get the bivalent booster. if you are at high risk or have an event where you may have exposure risk coming up you might want to get the booster sooner.

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University Health recommends getting omicron booster and flu shot now - KSLTV

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf is under pressure to address concerns raised by Aberdeenshire pensioners who have been stranded waiting for winter vaccines.

Pensioners in Braemar and Ballater have to travel up to 80 miles in their round trip to the nearest main flu vaccine centre in Banchory.

Tory MSP Alexander Burnett has been contacted by dozens of worried constituents, including some aged over 80, since letters started being sent out.

He accused the Scottish Government of shambolic mixed messaging around the flu vaccination programme.

Vaccines were previously provided by GP practices but a change to the national GP contract means they are now dealt with by a central vaccination team.

However, NHS Grampian say a series of vaccination outreach clinics have been set up across a number of Aberdeenshire locations for specific dates in the next two months.

These must be arranged by appointment only and walk-ins will not be permitted.

Mr Burnett, who represents Aberdeenshire West, said the level of concern among his constituents is continuing to escalate.

He has written to Mr Yousaf urging him to give clarity on the dire situation and asking the cabinet secretary to allow GP practices to administer flu jabs to patients.

The Conservative politician added: For vulnerable groups such as the elderly, getting the flu vaccine is essential for protecting themselves and others this winter and with Covid still present, its more important than ever that they get the jab.

But elderly patients in rural areas such as Braemar and Ballater have been left completely stranded by the SNPs decision to centralise vaccination facilities, and now face up to an 80-mile round trip to Banchory to get their flu vaccine.

The scale of the problem is rising on a daily basis which is why the Scottish Government must do the right thing and give permission for flu jabs to be administered locally rather than centrally.

Mr Burnett was contacted by a local GP surgery on September 13 who said they sympathise with patients making a round trip to Banchory.

The practice employee said: This was not a decision made by the clinic but was a Scottish Government decision.

This has been highlighted by one of our GPs for the attention of the director of public health as we have had a vast number of complaints and queries directed to the clinic which takes up a considerable amount of clinic resources when unfortunately, we have no say in the matter.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: This winter boards are using a variety of venues and locations reflecting population size and geography to ensure accessibility and convenience.

While GP practices are no longer the routine providers of vaccinations, health boards can make arrangements by agreement with their GP practices to provide vaccinations where this suits local needs.

Clinics have been established based upon experience gained from the programme thus far, with accessibility and equity of access paramount. The facilities available at each venue can be viewed when booking or amending an appointment.

Turriff Primary School: October 15, 16, 22 and 23.

An Caorann Medical Practice (Portsoy): October 29 and 30.

An Caorann Medical Practice (Aberchirder): November 5 and 6.

Crimond Medical Practice: October 29 and 30

Rosehearty Boat Club: November 6 and 13.

Maud Resource Centre: October 15 and October 16

Royal British Legion New Pitsligo: October 22 and 23.

Aden Health Centre: October 29 and 30.

Alford Academy: October 17-October 21 (inclusive).

Insch Hospital: October 24, 27 and 28.

Lonach Hall Strathdon: October 25 and 26.

Ellon Mobile Unit (sited at Ellon Community Campus): October 19-23 (inclusive).

Ellon Academy: October 15-21 (inclusive)

Westhill Academy: October 24-28 (inclusive)

Mearns Academy: October 24-28 (inclusive)

Portlethen Academy: October 17-21 (inclusive)

Aboyne Academy: October 17-21 (inclusive)

Ballater Primary School: October 24 and 25.

Braemar Primary School: October 26.

Grampian flu and Covid jabs: What you need to know for autumn/winter 2022

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Elderly north-east patients face being 'stranded' over flu jab roll-out - The Press & Journal

Myth 1: Influenza is not serious so I dont need the vaccine

Fact: As many as 650 000 people a year can die of the flu. This only represents respiratory deaths, so the likely impact is even higher. Even healthy people can get the flu, but especially people whose immune systems are vulnerable. Most people will recover within a few weeks, but some can develop complications including sinus and ear infections, pneumonia, heart or brain inflammations.

Myth 2: The flu vaccine can give me the flu

Fact: The injected flu vaccine contains an inactivated virus that cannot give you influenza. If you feel achy or slightly feverish, it is a normal reaction of the immune system to the vaccine, and generally lasts only a day or two.

Myth 3: The flu vaccine can cause severe side effects

Fact: The flu vaccine is proven to be safe. Severe side effects are extremely rare. One in a million people may get Guillain-Barr Syndrome (GBS), which cause muscle weakness and paralysis.

Myth 4: I had the vaccine and still got the flu, so it doesnt work

Fact:Several flu viruses are circulating all the time, which is why people may still get the flu despite being vaccinated since the vaccine is specific to one strain. However, being vaccinated improves the chance of being protected from the flu. This is especially important to stop the virus affecting people with vulnerable immune systems.

Myth 5: I am pregnant so shouldnt get the flu vaccine

Fact: Pregnant women should especially get the flu vaccine since their immune systems are weaker than usual. The inactivated flu vaccine is safe at any stage of pregnancy.

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5 myths about the flu vaccine - World Health Organization

Health officials are predicting this winter could see an active flu season on top of potential COVID surges. In short, it's a good year to be a respiratory virus. Left: Image of SARS-CoV-2 omicron virus particles (pink) replicating within an infected cell (teal). Right: Image of an inactive H3N2 influenza virus. NIAID/Science Source hide caption

Health officials are predicting this winter could see an active flu season on top of potential COVID surges. In short, it's a good year to be a respiratory virus. Left: Image of SARS-CoV-2 omicron virus particles (pink) replicating within an infected cell (teal). Right: Image of an inactive H3N2 influenza virus.

The flu virtually disappeared for two years as the pandemic raged. But influenza appears poised to stage a comeback this year in the U.S., threatening to cause a long-feared "twindemic."

While the flu and the coronavirus are both notoriously unpredictable, there's a good chance COVID cases will surge again this winter, and troubling signs that the flu could return too.

"This could very well be the year in which we see a twindemic," says Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease professor at Vanderbilt University. "That is, we have a surge in COVID and simultaneously an increase in influenza. We could have them both affecting our population at the same time."

The strongest indication that the flu could hit the U.S. this winter is what happened during the Southern Hemisphere's winter. Flu returned to some countries, such as Australia, where the respiratory infection started ramping up months earlier than normal, and caused one of the worst flu seasons in recent years.

What happens in the Southern Hemisphere's winter often foreshadows what's going to happen north of the equator.

"If we have a serious influenza season, and if the omicron variants continue to cause principally mild disease, this coming winter could be a much worse flu season than COVID," Schaffner warns.

And the combination of the two viruses could seriously strain the health system, he says. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that flu causes between 140,00 and 710,000 hospitalizations annually.

"We should be worried," says Dr. Richard Webby, an infectious disease specialist at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "I don't necessarily think it's run-for-the-hills worried. But we need to be worried."

The main reason the flu basically disappeared the last two years was the behavior changes people made to avoid COVID, such as staying home, avoiding public gatherings, wearing masks, and not traveling. That prevented flu viruses from spreading too. But those measures have mostly been abandoned.

"As the community mitigation measures start to roll off around the world and people return to their normal activities, flu has started to circulate around the world," says Dr. Alicia Fry, who leads influenza epidemiology and prevention for the CDC. "We can expect a flu season this year for sure."

The CDC is reporting that the flu is already starting to spread in parts of the south, such as Texas. And experts caution very young kids may be especially at risk this year.

Though COVID-19 generally has been mild for young people, the flu typically poses the biggest threat to both the elderly and children. The main strain of flu that's currently circulating, H3N2, tends to hit the elderly hard. But health experts are also worried about young children who have not been exposed to flu for two years.

"You have the 1-year-olds, the 2-year-olds, and the 3-year-olds who will all be seeing it for the first time, and none of them have any preexisting immunity to influenza," says Dr. Helen Chu, assistant professor of medicine and allergy and infectious diseases and an adjunct assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington.

In fact, the flu does appear to have hit younger people especially hard in Australia.

"We know that schools are really the places where influenza spreads. They're really considered the drivers of transmission," Chu says. "They'll be the spreaders. They will then take it home to the parents. The parents will then take it to the workplace. They'll take it to the grandparents who are in assisted living, nursing home. And then those populations will then get quite sick with the flu."

"I think we're heading into a bad flu season," Chu says.

Some experts doubt COVID and flu will hit the country simultaneously because of a phenomenon known as "viral interference," which occurs when infection with one virus reduces the risk of catching another. That's an additional possible reason why flu disappeared the last two years.

"These two viruses may still both occur during the same season, but my gut feeling is they're going to happen sequentially rather than both at the same time," Webby says. "So I'm less concerned about the twindemic."

Nevertheless, Webby and others are urging people to make sure everyone in the family gets a flu shot as soon as possible, especially if the flu season arrives early in the U.S. too. (Most years officials don't start pushing people to get their flu shots until October.)

So far it looks like this year's flu vaccines are a good match with the circulating strains and so should provide effective protection.

But health officials fear fewer people will get flu shots this year than usual because of anti-vaccine sentiment that increased in reaction to COVID vaccinations. Flu vaccine rates are already lagging.

"We are worried that people will not get vaccinated. And influenza vaccine is the best prevention tool that we have," the CDC's Fry says.

Fry also hopes that some of the habits people developed to fight COVID will continue and help blunt the impact of the flu.

"The wild card here is we don't know how many mitigation practices people will use," Fry says. "For example, people now stay home when they're sick instead of going to work. They keep their kids out of school. Schools are strict about not letting kids come to school if their sick. All of these types of things could reduce transmission."

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Flu season could be rough this year : Shots - Health News - NPR

As we head into cooler weather, its time to think about flu and COVID-19 risks. Flu season will soon be upon us. Spending more time indoors means that theres more opportunity for COVID-19 to spread. To protect against these two threats, the Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) strongly recommends that residents get an annual flu vaccine AND stay up-to-date on COVID vaccinations and boosters.

The CDC recommends that all people age 6 months and older get vaccinated against the flu vaccination, with rare exceptions. Different flu vaccines are approved for people of different ages. Everyone should get a flu vaccine that is appropriate for their age. The Cambridge Public Health Departments clinics will offer regular flu vaccine, flu nasal spray, and high-dose flu vaccine.

Vaccination against COVID-19 is recommended for everyone age 6 months and older. People age 5 and older should receive boosters. Updated bivalent boosters, which offer protection against multiple COVID variants, are currently recommended for everyone age 12 and older.

Flu shots and COVID vaccines and boosters are widely available at local pharmacies and many doctors offices. CPHD is also offering several community vaccination clinics in locations across Cambridge to make it even more convenient for residents to protect themselves against serious illness this winter. These CPHD clinics will begin in October and offer flu and COVID vaccines and boosters for residents age 6 months and older.

To view the CPHD vaccine clinic schedule and learn more about flu and COVID-19 vaccination, visit the CPHD website.

Make an appointment for a flu and/or COVID vaccine here. Residents can check both the flu and COVID options to register for two vaccines at the same time.

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Cambridge Public Health Department Recommends Flu Vaccines and COVID-19 Boosters, Releases Fall Vaccine Clinic Schedule - the City of Cambridge