The seasonal flu vaccine protects against three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. The 2011-2012 vaccine will protect against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus. The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on international surveillance and scientists' estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate in a given year. About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body.

Facts About the Seasonal Flu

• What is Influenza (Also Called Flu)?
• Preventing the Flu: Get Vaccinated
• When to Get Vaccinated
• Who Should Get Vaccinated?
• Who Should Not Be Vaccinated?
• If I got my flu shot late last year, do I still need to get another flu shot for this flu season?
• How to Get Your Vaccination

What is Influenza (Also Called Flu)?

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. Symptoms can vary from mild to severe illness, and can at times even include death.

Every year in the United States, on average:
• 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
• More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications; and
• Deaths from flu-related causes range from 3,300 to 48,600 (average 23,600).

Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at increased risk for serious flu complications.

Back to top

Preventing the Flu: Get Vaccinated

The single best way to reduce your chance of suffering from the flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. There are two types of vaccines:

• The "flu shot" - an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
• The nasal-spray flu vaccine - a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for "live attenuated influenza vaccine" or FluMist®). LAIV (FluMist®) is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.

Back to top

When to Get Vaccinated

Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September, or as soon as vaccine is available, and continue throughout the flu season which can last as late as May. This is because the timing and duration of flu seasons vary. While flu season can begin early as October, most of the time seasonal flu activity peaks in January, February or later.

Back to top

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

Health experts recommend that everyone 6 months of age and older get vaccinated against influenza.

While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it's especially important that the following groups get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications:

1. Pregnant women
2. Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
3. People 50 years of age and older
4. People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
5. People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
6. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
1. Health care workers
2. Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
3. Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

Back to top

Who Should Not Be Vaccinated?

There are some people who should not get a flu vaccine without first consulting a physician. These include:

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination.
• People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine.
• Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group), and
• People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated.)

Back to top

If I got my flu shot late last year, do I still need to get another flu shot for this flu season?

Yes, each year's flu shot is formulated differently. Therefore, each year's vaccine will protect you from slightly different circulating flu viruses. It is important to get your flu shot every year. Last year's flu shot will not provide you with sufficient immunity this year.

Back to top

How To Get Your Vaccination

Worksite: Available free of charge to employer groups who meet minimum requirements and are interested in receiving the flu shot. Non-members may also be participants at a discounted rate, although priority is given to members. Check with your employer to find out if it is available at your worksite.

See Your Healthcare Provider: There may be a charge for administration of the vaccine.

At School: Through a partnership between the State of Hawaii Departments of Health and Education, the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and Hawaii Catholic Schools, the School-based Vaccination Program offers FREE seasonal flu vaccine at all Hawaii elementary and middle schools. For more information, visit the Hawaii State Department of Health, http://www.flu.hawaii.gov/SFAS.html

Back to top