The flu season soon will be upon us. For some areas and people, it may already have arrived. The Johnson County Health Department reminds all Best Times readers about the importance of getting a flu vaccine as soon as it is available. Here are some answers to common questions:

What flu viruses are included in the seasonal vaccine for 2011-12? The World Health Organization recommended that this year's seasonal influenza vaccine contain the same three viruses selected for the Northern Hemisphere last year.

If the vaccine composition is the same, must I be vaccinated again? Yes! People should get vaccinated every year. Even if the viruses in the vaccine are the same as the year before, immunity to influenza declines over time and may be too low to provide protection after a year.

Will the seasonal flu vaccine ever protect against more than three viruses? Although clinical trials are under way for a four-strain vaccine, Food and Drug Administration licensure of these vaccines is not expected to occur in time for this flu season.

If I get vaccinated early in the season, might my immunity fade before the end of the season? No! The flu vaccination protects against the influenza strains for the entire season. Vaccination can begin as soon as vaccine becomes available.

Is late November too late to get vaccinated? No. Receiving the seasonal influenza vaccination even in December or later can be protective, because influenza usually peaks in January or February and can occur as late as May.

Does the flu vaccine work right away? No. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body, providing protection against influenza infection. In the meantime, you are at risk. That's why it's better to get vaccinated early in the fall, before the flu season really gets under way.

Can I contract seasonal flu even though I got a flu vaccine this year? Yes. The ability of flu vaccine to protect depends on two things: the age and health status of the person getting vaccinated, and the similarity or "match" between the virus strains in the vaccine and those circulating in the community.

If the viruses in the vaccine and the viruses circulating in the community are closely matched, vaccine effectiveness is higher. If they are not closely matched, vaccine effectiveness can be reduced. However, even when the viruses are not closely matched, the vaccine can protect many people and prevent flu-related complications. Such protection is possible because antibodies made in response to the vaccine can provide some protection against different, but related, strains of influenza viruses. This is called cross-protection.

What kind of flu vaccines exist? Three flu shots are available:

• a regular flu shot approved for people ages 6 months and older;
  
• a high-dose flu shot approved for people 65 and older; and
  
• an intradermal flu shot approved for people 18 to 64 years of age.
  

The nasal-spray flu vaccine is made with live, weakened flu viruses. The viruses in the nasal spray vaccine do not cause the flu. The nasal spray is approved for use in healthy people 2 through 49 years of age who are not pregnant. The nasal-spray is not recommended for those over 50.

Why should I get vaccinated against the flu? Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza can affect people differently. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others.

Studies going back to 1976 have found that flu-related deaths ranged from a low of 4,700 to a high of 56,600 (the average was 25,500). During a regular flu season, about 90 percent of deaths occur in people 65 years and older.

The "flu season" in the United States is usually from November through April. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to reduce the risk that you will get seasonal flu or spread it to others. When more people are vaccinated against the flu, less flu can spread through the community. Each person's vaccination helps protect the individual and the community.

How do I get more information? The Johnson County Health Department recommends you get your seasonal flu shot as soon as it is available. For local flu information, visit http://health.jocogov.org or call the Flu Hotline, 913-826-1263.

Information taken from the CDC Web site: www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/fluvaccine.htm

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