A quick sniff up the nose can prevent the flu

Patient getting the nasal spray flu vaccine
CDC/ Dr. Bill Atkinson

Have you been putting off getting your flu vaccination because you’re afraid of needles? Would you believe us if we said that there’s a quick, easy and needle-free alternative? Well, fear no more! The nasal spray flu vaccine is here.

Every year, thousands of people in the United States die from the flu and even more are hospitalized. The flu season occurs in the fall and the winter and can peak from late November through March, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In fact, flu cases are happening right now around the country. Sadly, health officials in California reported in November that both an infant and an adult have already died from flu this season.

Getting the nasal spray flu vaccine can not only keep you from getting the flu, but it can make your symptoms less severe if you do get it. Plus, it can prevent you from spreading your flu germs to your family and friends — including people who can’t get the vaccine, such as young babies.

So how does the nasal spray flu vaccine differ from the shot? For one, there’s that no needle thing. The nasal vaccine is also made from a weakened flu virus. But don’t worry — it can’t cause the flu. (Really!)

The spray works for both kids and adults and it’s safe for healthy people ages 2 through 49, says CDC. There are some folks who shouldn’t use it, though. For example, the nasal spray flu vaccine shouldn’t be used with people who are pregnant or have egg allergies, or in certain young kids with asthma, so check with your health provider before vaccination.

Flu vaccines take about two weeks for protection to develop, so it’s a good idea to get vaccinated ASAP. Luckily, protection lasts for the entire flu season. (Score!)

If you’ve been paying attention to the news, you may have heard that nasal spray flu vaccine manufacturers fell behind in shipping out vaccine supplies this year. So there’s a possibility that you may not find the nasal vaccine at the first place you try. You may want to call around to pharmacies, your doctor and local health department and ask if they have supplies before heading out for your vaccination.

But if you can’t find the nasal spray, don’t put off your vaccination: talk to your health provider about the regular flu shot instead. You don’t want to risk your health by waiting.

No one wants to miss out on all of the wonderful holiday festivities because of the flu. Muscle aches, sore throats, headaches and chills are not something you want to have while spending time with friends and family (or spread to them).

Want more facts on flu vaccination to read and share? Check out our Get Ready fact sheet. To find a vaccination site near you, use the Healthmap Vaccine Finder.

From the archive: Got asthma? An extra reason to get your flu shot

This post originally appeared on our blog in November of 2008:

Fever, aches and chills. Yuck! Flu season is upon us, and for many who come down with these symptoms, a few days in bed and plenty of fluid may be just what the doctor orders. But if you’re one of the more than 22 million Americans with asthma, the flu can lead to conditions that are much worse.

Photo: Patrick Benko

When you have asthma, your airways are already somewhat inflamed. They overreact to irritants and allergens, including viruses. Rather than fighting the virus, your lungs may secrete substances that promote inflammation. Making matters worse, viruses can replicate themselves more extensively in lungs affected by asthma than in healthy lungs.

Therefore, many health experts recommend that people with asthma get an annual flu shot. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with asthma are at high risk of developing complications after contracting the flu virus, yet most adults with asthma don’t get their annual flu shot.

So if you have asthma, take steps to protect yourself from flu: Avoid people who are sick. Wash your hands regularly. And if you haven’t gotten your flu shot, get one today.

The benefits of getting your flu vaccination

Winter — aka flu season in the U.S.— is here and let’s face it, the flu is no fun. Fever, cough, aches, pains: ugh! Luckily, there’s a great way to help prevent all that. Namely, a flu vaccination.
 
Let’s focus for a moment on why you should get your flu vaccine. First off, for some people, the flu is more than just “no fun,” it’s dangerous. People at high risk for serious complications from the flu include seniors, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease.

FluMIst (CDC/ Douglas Jordan, M.A.)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were more than 31 million flu-related illnesses last flu season in the U.S. and 381,000 people were hospitalized because of them.

Secondly, the flu can be deadly. Thousands of deaths from flu occur every year and, sadly, 169 were among U.S. children last season.

 

What can you do? Get your flu vaccination. It’s not too late! The flu vaccination is recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older and comes in a variety of options, including nasal and egg-free versions. There’s even one that’s injected under the skin with a small needle, for those who are squeamish.

 
When you get vaccinated against the flu not only do you lower your chance of getting it, you lower the chance of spreading it to children and other at-risk people you care about. And if you do get the flu, your symptoms won’t be as bad and you’ll get well faster.

At least six children have already died from the flu this season, according to CDC. Flu cases are occurring in every state, with many states reporting widespread flu activity. There have also been reports of severe respiratory illness among young and middle-aged adults infected with a type of flu virus known as pH1N1.

The good news is that vaccinations prevented more than 6 million flu-related illnesses last season in the U.S. They also prevented 79,000 people from going to the hospital because of the flu — enough to fill a large football stadium! Let’s all do our part to get those numbers higher this year. Find a flu shot vaccination location near you and sign up to track the flu in real time in your community.