Posts filed under ‘Flu’
Immunization; it’s not just for kids.
When you think of immunization, it’s usually in relation to children. But immunization is just as important for adults, and it’s the most effective way to protect you and your family against a number of very serious infections.
“Adults often think about travel-related immunization for exotic illnesses and what vaccines they should get before they leave,” says Teresa McCormack, Registered Nurse in the Occupational Health and Safety Department at TSH. “While these are extremely important, it’s also important for adults to ensure they have all of their routine immunizations up to date, including boosters. There are also specific vaccines available for people over 60 such as pneumococcal and shingles.”
If you’re travelling, there are certain vaccines you should get depending on the country you are visiting. You can talk to your healthcare provider, local public health office, or you can visit http://www.travelhealth.gc.ca/ for more information about specific vaccines.
Some adults may not have received common vaccines due to changes in the immunization schedule when they were children, or if they have moved to Canada from another country.
“Measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox are given to children,” says Teresa. “But if you didn’t receive the vaccine as a child, you should ask for it. Although these diseases are rare in Canada, you could still be susceptible to them if you travel to countries where they are more common.”
Here is a list of some other vaccines you should have up to date:
Tetanus – everyone; every 10 years
Diphtheria – everyone; every 10 years
Whooping Cough (Pertussis) – everyone; once in adulthood
Influenza (Flu shot) – everyone; every year
Pneumonia (Pneumococcal) – people age 19 to 64 with specific medical conditions and everyone over age 65; once in your lifetime
Hepatitis B – People with medical, occupational or lifestyle risks and anyone who wants protection; a series of vaccines over a period of time
Hepatitis A – People with medical, occupational or lifestyle risks and anyone who wants protection; a series of vaccines over a period of time
Meningococcal – people with specific medical conditions and people living in residential accommodation including students and military personnel; there are a number of different vaccines – talk to your healthcare provider about which one is right for you
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) – females and males nine to 26 years old; three doses within six months
Shingles (Herpes zoster) – age 60 and over; once in your lifetime
Should you vaccinate your baby?
Most new or soon-to-be parents have struggled, or are struggling with a common question. Are vaccinations safe for my baby? The answer is yes.
“There is a lot of misinformation floating around out there about the safety of vaccinations,” says Dr. Peter Azzopardi, Chief of Paediatric Medicine at TSH. “Vaccines have been said to cause a number of health problems including autism and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The reality is, these claims are just not true.”
Expert groups in Canada, and around the world, have researched and investigated these claims and have found no evidence of a link between vaccines and any of these health concerns.
“Vaccines are safe,” says Dr. Azzopardi. “Although some children may experience mild reactions from vaccinations, such as a sore arm or mild fever, the benefits of having your child vaccinated far outweigh the risks that come with the diseases the vaccinations prevent.”
In Ontario, when you vaccinate your child you protect them against a number of life-threatening diseases including:
- Whooping cough
- Polio
- Meningitis
- Measles
- Mumps
- German measles (rubella)
- Hepatitis
- Chickenpox
- Influenza
Many of these diseases are rare in Canada, and that’s because of our good vaccination rates. But they quickly reappear in Canadian populations who choose not to vaccinate – for example the measles outbreak in Quebec last year. As well, there is a risk if you travel to countries where the diseases are still common.
The flu vaccine is important for every member of the family. Many people don’t realize the flu can be much more debilitating than the common cold and has the potential for severe illness and even death. The flu shot will protect you. You may also choose to use the new nasal spray that’s available this year and is covered by most drug plans.
Talk to your doctor about when your child should be vaccinated.
Visit the Ontario Ministry of Health website to view a vaccination schedule and get more information about vaccinating your child.
Tips for visiting hospital patients
Having visitors while you’re a patient in a hospital can have a positive impact on your recovery. But there can also be negative consequences if visitors don’t adhere to necessary infection control rules.
“It’s natural for people to feel stressed, anxious or even excited – such as in the case of a new baby – when they are seeing a friend or loved one in hospital,” said Mirza Ali, an Infection Control Practitioner at The Scarborough Hospital.
“However, for the safety of all patients, visitors should take the time to be aware of certain policies and procedures.”
Mirza recommends hospital visitors take into account the following:
- Wash or sanitize your hands when you enter the hospital, before you touch the patient, and after you leave their room.
- Ensure you are aware of any personal protective equipment that may need to be worn while you are in the patient’s room, such as masks, gowns or gloves. This information will be posted on the door of the patient’s room. Speak to someone at the nursing station if you are unsure about the requirements.
- Family members and those who provide care to hospitalized patients should strongly consider getting vaccinated against seasonal flu.
- Refrain from going into other patient rooms or staff areas while you are visiting.
- Postpone or avoid visiting if you are ill or have any symptoms that are contagious. These symptoms include:
- Vomiting;
- Diarrhea;
- Symptoms of acute respiratory tract infection, including cough, sore throat, runny nose and/or fever;
- Eye infection or pink eye;
- Chicken pox, shingles, measles or mumps;
- Infectious rashes.
“It’s important to remember that these rules are in place to protect our patients, as well as their family members and other visitors,” stresses Mirza.
“Compliance with hand hygiene before and after visiting a patient, and the use of personal protective equipment where required, are important steps that prevent the transfer of disease both inside and outside of the hospital.”
Busting common flu myths
Every fall, debates rage over flu vaccinations and whether or not they are an effective way to protect oneself from the flu. And while most of us, at one time, received sound medical advice from our family physicians, the age of the Internet has given rise to both an overload of information and the potential for myths to circulate.
“The number of myths related to the flu and the flu vaccine is quite astounding,” says Dr. Reena Lovinsky, an infectious disease specialist at The Scarborough Hospital. “Unfortunately, misinformation and ignorance are significant reasons why more than 50,000 Canadians will be unnecessarily hospitalized this year due to influenza complications, and why between 2,000 and 5,000 could die.”
To help you understand the truth about the flu and vaccine, Dr. Lovinsky busts the following common myths:
Myth 1: The flu is really just a bad cold
We all get colds, and we know they can cause sore throats, runny noses or congestion that lasts a few days. The flu virus can have a much more significant impact, infecting the lungs, causing joint pain, and in the most serious cases, leading to pneumonia or respiratory failure.
Myth 2: I got the flu shot last year, so I should still be protected
Wrong! The flu vaccine provides protection against the most prevalent strains of the virus expected to be circulating this season, and typically changes each year. Also, a person’s immunity to the flu declines over time and requires annual vaccination to maintain protection. Age and health can be factors as well. As a rule, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions that weaken the body’s immune system are most at risk from the flu, and are therefore most in need of annual vaccinations. But everyone, regardless of age or health, decreases their likelihood of developing serious flu complications by getting a flu shot each year.
Myth 3: I’ve never had the flu shot, and I never get sick
Anyone can get the flu, and just because you’ve never had it before does not mean you are immune. Even healthy individuals can become seriously ill, often for a week or more. Only a flu vaccination can offer true protection from serious flu complications.
Myth 4: The flu shot can actually give me the flu
This is probably the most common flu myth out there, and it is completely false. The flu vaccine does not contain live flu virus, and therefore cannot give you the flu. Given the time of year, many people come down with common colds, and mistake it for the flu. Sometimes people can get a fever after the flu vaccine. This is not the flu, but a sign that your body is mounting antibodies to protect you against the flu in the future.
Myth 5: Vaccinations don’t really offer protection from the flu
Data shows that the flu shot is close to 90 per cent effective at preventing the flu in healthy adults and children, when the vaccine is a good match to the circulating flu types.
Myth 6: Pregnant women should avoid the flu shot
The flu vaccine is safe, and is recommended during pregnancy and while breast-feeding as pregnant women and newborns are at high risk for complications from influenza. During pregnancy, their immune systems are suppressed, and pregnant women—especially those in their second and third trimesters—are at a higher risk for developing complications such as pneumonia.
Myth 7: The flu vaccine has bad side effects
Other than occasional reports of mild soreness or redness at the injection site, there are typically no negative side effects from the flu vaccination. However, some people with known allergies should avoid the flu shot altogether. If you have had a bad allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine, or if you have an egg allergy that is manifested by hives, swelling of the mouth and throat, difficulty breathing, hypotension or shock, the vaccination should be avoided.
Additional information about the flu, along with flu-related resources, are available on our website at www.tsh.to
Why get a flu shot?
Dr. Larry Erlick, Chief of Family Practice and Community Medicine at The Scarborough Hospital explains:
There is a difference between the common cold and the flu. With temperatures dropping and winter approaching there are over 20 viruses than can cause cold and flu-like symptoms. Most of these viruses cause mild flu-like symptoms with runny nose, mild aches and pains, usually low grade fever, some nausea, occasional vomiting and diarrhea and usually a quick recovery.
The flu shot protects you against human influenza A and B viruses that can cause serious respiratory infections and even death. Influenza – or the flu – typically starts with a headache, chills and cough, followed rapidly by fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches and fatigue, running nose, sneezing, watery eyes and throat irritation. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur, especially in children.
Most people will recover from influenza within a week or ten days, but some – including those over 65 and adults and children with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cancer – are at greater risk of more severe complications, such as pneumonia and even death. Between 2,000 and 8,000 Canadians can die of influenza and its complications annually, depending on the severity of the season.
The best way to prevent catching this potentially serious infection is to have a flu shot each year. To reduce the spread of germs and help prevent illness, it is also important to wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer. It is a good idea to carry hand sanitizer with you.
Fourteen situations that require a trip to the emergency department
With flu season in full swing, Emergency Departments typically experience an influx of patients. Oftentimes, patients exhibiting flu-like symptoms should be visiting their family doctors instead of using the resources of a busy hospital emerg.
“It’s important to know when you should come to the Emergency Department, since each day, we see hundreds of patients,” explains Dr. Joe Butchey, an Emergency Department doctor with The Scarborough Hospital for 16 years.
“At times, staff and equipment are stretched to the limit. When this happens, people with minor injuries and illnesses may have to wait several hours while others with more serious problems are treated first.”
Approximately 25 to 30 per cent of patients who visit the Emergency Department each year could have received proper care from their family doctor or at a Walk-In or After-Hours Clinic.
If you know you just have a cold or minor health problem, see your family doctor or attend a clinic first. However, if you have any of the following health concerns, you should visit the nearest Emergency Department.
For Adults and Children:
- Moderate to severe stomach pain (7+ on a scale of 1 to 10)
- Problems breathing
- Chest pain
- Loss of consciousness
- Broken bone
- Deep cut
- Car accident
- Head injury
- Physical collapse
- Any type of severe pain
For Children:
- High fever
- Babies who have not been feeding well
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Inactivity, compared to usual activity levels
Additional information about healthcare options in our community from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is available here.
Flu shot is nothing to sneeze at
The H1N1 pandemic may be over, but that doesn’t mean this year’s flu season is anything to sneeze at. In fact, protecting yourself and your family from the flu is as important as ever.
“The seasonal flu has a huge impact,” says Dr. Reena Lovinsky, a specialist in infectious diseases at The Scarborough Hospital. “In Canada, five million people (1 in 6) develop influenza infection each year. Each year, more than 50,000 Canadians will be hospitalized and between 2,000 and 5,000 people will die because of influenza related complications.”
By contrast, approximately 425 Canadians died as a result of H1N1 during last year’s pandemic.
“Really, a vaccination is your first line of defense against the flu,” she says. “The vaccines are safe, and they are designed to protect you against the most common strains of the virus known to be circulating. Unlike last year, when two vaccinations were required to protect you against H1N1 and the seasonal flu, this year’s vaccine will be a single dose.”
Dr. Lovinsky says the seasonal flu shot is most important for the following groups:
- Seniors aged 65 years and older
- Residents of nursing homes or chronic care facilities
- Children aged 6 to 23 months
- Anyone with lung, heart or kidney disease, or other chronic conditions such as diabetes, anemia, cancer or HIV
- Healthy pregnant women
- Healthcare workers
Groups who should avoid the vaccination include children less than six months of age and those with severe allergies to eggs.
Flu Resources:
Flu Fact Sheet for General Public
Toronto Public Health – Flu information (available in multiple languages)
