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The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department recently announced
the second presumptive influenza (flu) associated death. The
individual was an 89-year-old, male, Lucas County resident.
The patient had multiple other underlying medical
conditions, but the influenza virus may have contributed to
the death.
My own current bout with a possible influenza-induced
respiratory infection also has me thinking about community
health today.
Did you know that
African Americans and Latinos are significantly less likely
to get a flu shot than whites and that
misconceptions about risks from vaccination are putting
African Americans and Hispanics at risk of severe
complications and even death?
Studies show the main reason for African Americans to forego
vaccination is concern over the flu vaccine causing the flu
or serious side effects. Other reasons for not getting a flu
shot include
lack of reminders for shots and appointments, frequent
changes of telephone numbers and addresses, difficulty with
transportation and childcare and mistrust of the health care
system.
The fact is, a flu shot cannot cause flu illness. According
to public health officials, flu vaccines that are
administered with a needle are currently made in two ways:
the vaccine is made either with a) flu vaccine viruses that
have been 'inactivated' and are therefore not infectious, or
b) with no flu vaccine viruses at all. The most common side
effects from the influenza shot are soreness, redness,
tenderness or swelling where the shot was given. Low-grade
fever, headache and muscle aches also may occur.
What about people who get a seasonal flu vaccine and still
get sick with flu-like symptoms?
There are several reasons why someone might get a flu-like
illness, even after they have been vaccinated against flu:
1.
One reason is that some people can become ill from other
respiratory viruses besides flu such as rhinoviruses, which
are associated with the common cold, cause symptoms similar
to flu, and also spread and cause illness during the flu
season. The flu vaccine only protects against influenza
viruses, not other viruses.
2.
Another explanation is that it is possible to be exposed to
influenza viruses, which cause the flu, shortly before
getting vaccinated or during the two-week period after
vaccination that it takes the body to develop immune
protection.
3.
A third reason why some people may experience flu like
symptoms despite getting vaccinated is that they may have
been exposed to a flu virus that is very different from the
viruses the vaccine is designed to protect against. There
are many different flu viruses that spread and cause illness
among people.
4.
The final explanation for experiencing flu-like symptoms
after vaccination is that unfortunately, the flu vaccine
doesn't always provide adequate protection against the flu.
This is more likely to occur among people that have weakened
immune systems or people age 65 and older.
Yet, there are preventative measures that everyone can take
to protect against the spread of flu and other viruses:
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Stay home when you are sick until you are fever free for at
least 24 hours.
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Vigorously wash hands frequently, preferably with soap and
water.
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Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then discard the
tissue promptly.
Health officials also encourage citizens to protect
themselves and their loved ones by getting the flu
vaccination. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and
older receive a flu vaccine, available as a nasal spray or
shot form.
To summarize, the key
points to remember are:
African Americans and
Hispanics are less likely to get a flu shot,
Getting a flu shot cannot
cause the disease,
Flu is a dangerous, even
life-threatening disease,
Contact Rev. Donald Perryman, D.Min, at
drdlperryman@centerofhopebaptist.org
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