Influenza Vaccine Information

On this page:

• What is influenza? 
• Find a flu clinic 
• Vaccine information 
• Target populations for seasonal vaccination
• Myths about influenza vaccine
• Influenza vaccine information for employers

Influenza is a seasonal disease caused by the Orthomyxoviridus virus. Influenza is spread by airborne droplets and contaminated surfaces and is highly contagious, even before the person knows they are sick.

Each year, between 5-20% of the worldwide population will become ill with seasonal influenza. In America, influenza and its complications cause an annual average of 36,000 deaths and 226,000 hospitalizations, as well as countless hours of missed work, medical expenses, and will often lead to secondary infections such as pneumococcal pneumonia, sinus infections, and ear infections. Influenza can also interfere with the insulin cycle of persons with diabetes.

While deaths and hospitalizations for influenza and influenza-related complications tend to occur in the frail: babies, the elderly, and persons with low immune systems-- the majority of influenza transmissions come from young, healthy, unvaccinated children and adults. To complicate the issue, some healthy persons can be infected, and contagious, but have no symptoms.

This site has been created to help guide your efforts to prevent and control the impact of influenza on your community. Included are links to other agencies working towards the same goal of reducing the burden of influenza disease. If you have resources to share, or know of an agency we should include on our site, please contact the Oregon Immunization Program at 971-673-0472.

Find a Flu Clinic

• American Lung Association
  
• Oregon SafeNet 

Influenza Vaccine

The most effective method of preventing influenza in the community is by vaccinating more people each year. There are two types of influenza vaccine, LAIV (the nasal spray) and TIV (the injection). Both types of vaccine are effective in preventing influenza disease and its spread and reducing symptoms of influenza in people that do catch the disease.

Get more information about influenza vaccine (pdf) and what to expect for distribution of influenza vaccine in Oregon.

• Flu Vaccine Fact Sheet
  Seasonal and H1N1 vaccine information
  
• 2009 - 2010 Seasonal Influenza Vaccines (September 3, 2009-FDA site)
  
• Influenza Vaccine Available in the United States (FDA site)
  
• Why Flu Vaccination Matters Video
  This powerful six and half-minute video, created by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with Families Fighting Flu (FFF), features the personal stories of parents who have tragically lost or nearly lost a child to the flu. The video intertwines the stories of these parents with the facts about influenza as explained by Dr. Jeanne Santoli, Deputy Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC.

• Any person wishing to prevent the spread of influenza
• Children 6 months to the 19th birthday (the highest risk for flu complications are children under 5 years old)
  • Children under 9 who are getting the influenza vaccine for the first time should get a second dose 4 weeks after the first dose is given.
• All adults age 50 and older
• Women who are pregnant during the flu season
• Persons with chronic diseases or in contact with persons with chronic diseases
  • Heart and lung diseases, including persons with asthma
  • Persons receiving long-term asprin therapy
  • Diabetes
  • Kidney and liver diseases
  • Persons with cancer or undergoing treatments
  • Any disease or condition which reduces immune system
• Persons living in a chronic care or other long-term care facility
• All persons working in a health care facility
• Contacts with infants or the elderly
• New parents (babies under 6 months are at an especially high risk because they are too young for influenza vaccine… getting adults around the newborn vaccinated is the best way to prevent influenza from spreading in the household)

Myths about Seasonal Influenza Vaccine

Influenza disease and influenza vaccination are complicated topics. There are a great deal of misunderstandings, myths, and misconceptions regarding influenza vaccines in the popular media.

• Typical untrue beliefs about influenza (pdf)
• Information on the vaccine/autism controversy

Influenza Vaccine Information for Employers

Many employers do not realize the cost of influenza on their bottom line. Influenza causes missed days at work when employees are absent to care for their own or their children's illnesses.  It can also cause 'presenteeism' which is when an employee comes to work sick and is less productive, exposes other workers to illness, and potentially risks injuries due to inattentiveness while working.
Depending on your type of business, having infected employees expose clients and customers may be a liability risk to you.  Food service workers, daycare workers, customer service providers, and persons in health care settings are in daily contact with large numbers of people and face many potential chances to spread influenza (such as handling food and money).
Nosocomial infections (those caught from a medical setting) have led to high-profile lawsuits and media attention.

• Immunization in the Workplace Presentation (pdf)  (OAIC, Feb. 2007)
  
• First do No Harm (pdf) - Protect patients by making sure all staff receive yearly influenza vaccine.
  
• Wellness2000, Inc.

Thinking about sponsoring a flu clinic? The following contract with businesses to provide influenza vaccincations on-site or an arranged location.

• GetaFluShot.com -
• Maxim Healthcare Services - www.findaflushot.com
• MS Society of Oregon 

To be included on this list, please contact bryan.goodin@state.or.us