Not too late to get flu vaccine, FDA urges

A nationwide rise in flu activity has Americans on edge.

As of Wednesday, 44 U.S. states are declaring widespread flu activity, CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reported, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added that the percentage of Americans going to the hospital has doubled within the past month.

Boston, a major Northeast city with a population of at least 600,000 people, declared a public health emergency on Wednesday after confirming 700 cases -- by this time last year there were only 70 confirmed influenza infections in the city. Hospitals in Chicago are seeing so many flu patients that several had to turn away ambulances. One Pennsylanvia Hospital, Lehigh Valley Hospital, had to set up tents outside its emergency room to deal with the extremely busy flu season.

With influenza sweeping the country, the Food and Drug Administration is reminding everyone 6 months and older to get a flu shot, warning the disease could be especially dangerous for kids.

"Everyone seems to know that the elderly are particularly vulnerable, but so too are children," Dr. William Rodriguez, a pediatrician at the FDA said in a statement Wednesday. "Severe complications are most common in children under age 2."

In the last 10 flu seasons, between 43 and 153 children have died from flu in the United States, according to Rodriguez, with an average of 20,000 children under 5 hospitalized each year.

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CDC warns of flu season with high rate of attack

The CDC's most recent flu report, which measured disease activity for the week of Dec. 23 through Dec. 29, shows 18 children have already died. The agency updates the public on U.S. flu activity every Friday.

The CDC has said there's "no excuse" to skip the flu shot. However LaPook reports only about 37 percent of Americans have been vaccinated this year, which is about average.

For those heeding the advice to get a flu shot this week, the FDA notes that immunization takes several weeks to take effect. While many people have been immunized in the fall, they still should be protected through the remainder of the flu season, which typically peaks in January or February. Cases, however, can continue through the spring.

"This is particularly late in the flu season for very young children, because to optimize immune response, children between the ages of 6 and 35 months need two shots, four weeks apart, during their first season of vaccination," said Rodriguez. "However, even one shot provides some protection, so even now there is time to get some benefit."

It is true that the flu shot does not guarantee protection against the virus -- the vaccine has been about 60 to 70 percent effective in recent years, according to LaPook.

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Boston declares flu a public health emergency

Dr. William Shaffner, an infectious disease researcher at Vanderbilt University who served on the committee that decided what went into the vaccine, told the CBS Evening News Wednesday that this year's shot is well-matched to most of the strains out there.

However, "There is an influenza B strain that's out there, an additional strain that's causing about 10 percent of the mischief," he said. "And that's not in the vaccine and that accounts for some of the influenza that's out there."

One misconception about the shot, LaPook notes, is people will get the flu after getting vaccinated. The CDC told him that's not true, but the vaccine can cause a reaction that might cause flu-like symptoms such as aches, pains and a low-grade fever. The symptoms typically go away in a day or two.

Besides vaccination, maintaining proper hygiene with everyday actions such washing hands with soap and water, avoiding close contact with sick people, keeping your hands out of your eyes, nose and mouth could reduce risk.

[saggingbellyfat]

Before you take the CDC's advice, you might want to google "cdc bestiality" - very interesting. A year later, not a word as to the outcome of the legal case against the 'lady.'

Now run and get that flu shot! And if your month-old baby gets the flu, don't forget to have it injected with Big Pharma's Tamiflu. It's what's fer breakfast!

[AmazingGrce]

Our bodies build their immune systems based on their exposure and that is the basis for the flu shots. Expose your body to the illness so that it can build up a resistance to it.

Problem 1 All of us react differently and some react so strongly to even the 'vaccine' that we might as well have suffered through the real deal - and then at least we wouldn't have to put up with the supervisors who won't believe that you actually got sick because of the vaccine.

Problem 2 - The CDC and all the professionals admit that each years vaccine is a gamble - they anticipate which flu virus will be prevelant and then produce a vaccine for that virus. (Sometimes more than one in a vaccine) BUT it is still a gamble -the flu virus you encounter may not be the one in your vaccine and when that happens you still get sick.
*** 40 *** percent still get sick according to the CDCs own records this year.

So if you know your own bodies resistance level I firmly believe each person should make a choice on their own WITHOUT the Government or Employers forcing us to submit to their game of chance. For me it's a given - take a shot - get sick from the shot and be almost as sick as from the real bug. Then try to tell you boss that the shot made you sick - yeah right.

CDC and other well intentioned people need to recognize that among our freedoms is the right determine the extent of medical care we chose to receive. - Until they can prove that their vaccine will truly prevent me from getting the flu and not make me sick anyway -they can keep their vaccine and stop pushing.

[CamB06]

Yes, there is a high possibility you can still get sick, but the vaccine still builds antibodies that provide cross protection! That means if you DO get the flu, the symptoms and duration will be decreased. You say that it makes you sick, perhaps you have an allergy to one of the ingredients. Regardless, the flu vaccine cannot be used by everyone because of bad reactions, but for the majority of people it is perfectly safe and will not cause illness. These people should be getting vaccinated in order to PROTECT the people like you who cannot/should not get vaccinated because their bodies can't tolerate the vaccine.

[JMSween]

My mom contacted me today out of concern for her grandchildren. My wife and I opted against the vaccines this year, as all previous years, but with the intense spread and severity of this years flu outbreak she couldn't help herself. I calmly listened to her and let her express herself. Neither child, 8 and 4, have had the vaccine ever. I then asked if she recalled the flu last year that her and my father got. She told me once again how horrible it was and how it lasted forever and almost put my dad in the hospital. I asked if the vaccine was worth it than- it truly provided no protection or dampening effect on the flu. We will keep eye on our kids, take care of them with wholesome food and lots of water, and hopefully avoid the flu for another year... if not, we will love them and care them through. Chances are higher that they will die from an unintentional injury on any given day (statistic found on CDC website) than catch the flu and die in any given year. Shall I cry out for an injury vaccine? Peace, Prayers, and Cheers everyone. Here's to a happy healthy 2013.

[CamB06]

JMSWEEN, your anecdotal evidence is purely circumstantial. If you are interested in statistics, perhaps you should look up the statistics of vaccinated vs. non-vaccinated flu incidence. The flu vaccine is not perfect but it greatly improves your chance to avoid catching (and thus spreading) the virus. Even should you catch it, the dead strain from the vaccine causes the creation of antibodies which can aid in fighting off the actual flu strain, which means the potency of the symptoms and their durations can be greatly reduced. This kind of ignorance makes me quite angry because the concept of HERD IMMUNITY doesn't work when people are too willfully, STUBBORNLY ignorant to get vaccinated. Frankly I think it's downright unethical NOT to get vaccinated, especially if you work around a lot of people or with the sick/elderly.

[AmazingGrce]

I agree with you JWSWEEN

Thanks but No Thanks CDC - Everytime I submitted to a Flu Shot I missed or should have missed at least a 1 or more days of from the reaction to that 'wonderful' thing. It's been 22 years since I was last forced to take a flu shot and I've had a 'flue like' illness perhaps once and even that was questionable. I work in retail so I am certainly expose to the virus but for me - the vaccine is more harmful than good. I am over 60 and think I'll take my chances rather than the sure thing of the vaccine reaction.

[gretaliana11]

As a nurse reading the above comments, I weep for our society. Dear Lord there are a lot of misinformed people out there...

Not everything is a conspiracy. This isn't a hollywood movie. It is a simple vaccine that while not 100% effective, still provides protection against the flu.

[JMSween]

God created us perfect, he provided everything we need. The flu may be horrible, and unfortunately people die from it, but it's not the plague. I certainly prefer to make sure my body and the bodies of my children can function through on their own when it comes to the flu. Thank you for your tears- I'll say prayers for you.

[AmazingGrce]

gretaliana11 - SAVE your tears - We are still allowed to make our own choices - your beloved vaccine fails to protect in at least 40% of the population so it is way way short of a great deal.

Until the liberals and misinformed people like you change our country into a complete Nanny state - STAY AWAY from me with your wonderful vaccine.

[Uneed2BWeened]

Coca-cola is my flu vaccine.

[HannahZW]

I gave two of my children the shot. My 5 yr old got terribly ill for 6 days afterwards all flu symptoms- high fever aches all over etc.... Every child reacts differently....the worse part of it was the pediatrician telling me that it was not a reaction from the shot!! this is a child that has had reactions to other vaccines and i wish I would have been strong enough to withstand the pressure I was put under to give my children the vaccines. Especially to a child who has shown sensitivity to vaccines in the past!!!

[Proudmommy7777]

Well that proves the flu shot is the reason for illnesses my daughter got the flu shot last year and was horribly sick and missed 40 days of school this year she has only missed 10 days in 2 semesters... That's should be a wake up call. Your body is supposed to natural get sick to make you immune system stronger! Don't get the shot even the word of god warned us of this.... Told us not to get shots.trust in god not the govenorment....

[JMSween]

I saw that as well about Influenza B- on a government site. Had to look for it though, certainly not information that is being thrown around.

[AverageAmericanVoter]

Why is it, that every winter there is a huge media push for everyone to get a flu shot? Let's say that there's nothing wrong with flu shots, let's say that they do help you avoid getting the flu. ( which is wrong because there are so many strains of the flue ) It's still only recommended for elderly and the very young. The rest of us, medically, should not get a flu shot. Almost anyone between the age of 5 and 65 have had the flu, most have had it many times. It sucks to have the flu, but, you drink a lot of water, you eat some chicken noodle soup, you sleep a little more for a few days, and you get over it. Your immune system is far better off fighting the infection itself that having a few antibodies from the previous years flu injected. I'm not an advocate against vaccinations. The vaccinations against diphtheria, and tetanus, and other such illnesses, are good and fine. The diseases don't mutate often, they last for years, and you're good to go. The flu vaccine, with all the media coverage it gains every winter, seems to just be a mass marketing ploy. It just gives the vaccine conspiracy ground.

[CamB06]

They recommend the very old and very young to get flu shots ESPECIALLY. This does not mean that everyone else should NOT get flu shots. They urge those groups in PARTICULAR because they are AT RISK from the flu. The young and the old are the ones who are most likely to DIE from it.

I really hope for our country's sake that your username is incorrect.

[gigmoney]

Get this..according the CDC, the flu vaccine works best among young healthy adults and older children. Some older people and people with certain chronic illnesses may develop less immunity after vaccination. Why push it on babies, toddlers and the elderly then?? Does it give you a false sense of security so that your not as careful and you should be during flu season?? My elderly mother got severely ill after the flu shot this year. My doctor would not even give me the flu shot when I was pregnant 5 years ago and I have not had a shot since. I have not had the flu either...not in years. We all grew up with the flu...most of us survived. The ones that have most of the complications apparently wouldn't fair much better with the shot either.

[Macho111111]

big pharma, cbs (and other media outlets), fda, are all controlled by the same guys. they make big profit while flushots are have maybe a 1% effectivness. make your own judgement before injecting this chemicoctail in ur bloodstream and switch to natural remedies for flu.

[Macho111111]

Flu shots are pure poison and real effectivness is maybe 1% (maybe). As the commenter above correctly stated they do contain toxins. All the mainstream media can do is push flu shots. Both big pharma and those media outlets are probably owned by the same guys. the fda is also heavily controlled by them. Make your own judgement guys before injecting this chemcoctail in your bloddstream