Seasonal Influenza (Flu)

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

The “seasonal flu season” in the United States can begin as early as October and last as late as May. During this time, flu viruses are circulating in the population.

An annual seasonal flu vaccine (either the flu shot or the nasal-spray flu vaccine) is the best way to reduce the chances that you will get seasonal flu and lessen the chance that you will spread it to others. When more people get vaccinated against the flu, less flu can spread through that community.

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Almost everyone who is at least 6 months of age should get a flu vaccine this season. It’s especially important for some people to get vaccinated. Those people include the following:

People who are at high risk of developing serious complications like pneumonia if they get sick with the flu. This includes:

• People who have certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.
• Pregnant women.
• People 65 years and older.
• People younger than 5 years (and especially those younger than 2).

People who live with or care for others who are high risk of developing serious complications. This includes:

• Household contacts and caregivers of people with certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.
• Household contacts and caregivers of infants less than 6 months old.
• Health care personnel.

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Who Should Not Be Vaccinated

• Influenza vaccine is not approved for children younger than 6 months of age.
• People who have had a severe allergic reaction to influenza vaccine should generally not be vaccinated.

 There are some people who should not get a flu vaccine without first consulting a physician. These include:

• People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with or without a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated).
• People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine.

[Source for all of the above: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine]

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Where can you get a flu shot?

Contact your primary care doctor's office or your local pharmacist to see if they offer flu shots.

Adult Immunization & Travel Clinic: AITC is a non-profit, fee-for-service clinic that is part of the San Francisco Department of Public Health. AITC is committed to providing convenient, knowledgeable, personalized, and cost-effective immunization services for travelers, students, new employees, immigrants, and other members of the community. Information is available at http://www.sfcdcp.org/aitc.html

HealthMap Vaccine Finder

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Cold or Flu?

Treatment for the Flu

When to Call Your Doctor About the Flu

[Source: UCSF Medical Center]

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Health Newsletters at the Patient Health Library, October 2013

Here are highlights from recent health and wellness newsletters at the UCSF Patient Health Library.  To see the entire articles, visit the Patient Health Library!

Not all information is free and not all of it is online!

UC Berkeley Wellness Letter

Special Fall Issue: The ABCs of sleep

September 2013
-Toenail fungus, p.4
-The carnivore's dilemma, p.5
-Cutting calories - as easy as 1,2,3  p.6

Mayo Clinic Health Letter

September 2013
-Macular degeneration, pp.1-3
-Laxatives, pp.4-5
-Flu vaccine, p.6

October 2013
-Sinus problems, pp.1-3
-Pain after shingles, pp.4-5
-Inguinal hernia, p.7

Johns Hopkins Medical Letter: Health After 50

October 2013
-Osteoarthritis of the knee, pp.1-2
-Grapefruit & drugs often don't mix, p.3

Special Fall Issue: Stroke in women

Harvard Men's Health Watch

October 2013
-Before dementia begins, pp.1,7
-Arthritic knees, p.3
-Leg pain from walking, p.4
-How to prevent kidney stones, p.5

Harvard Heart Letter

October 2013
-Simple food substitutions yield big health dividends, pp.1,7
-Prevent kidney disease to prevent heart disease, p.3
-Tell you dentist about your heart problems, p.5

Duke Medicine Health News

October 2013
-Vitamin D, pp.1-2
-Aspirin protects some hearts better than others, p.3
-Control blood sugar to reduce risk of Alzheimer's, pp.5-6
-Breakthrough in ER+ breast cancer, p.7

Consumer Reports on Health

October 2013
-Good bacteria vs. C. diff: what to look for when choosing a probiotic, pp.1,4-5
-Women: be wary of new bladder drug, p.9

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Seasonal Influenza (Flu)

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

The “seasonal flu season” in the United States can begin as early as October and last as late as May. During this time, flu viruses are circulating in the population.

An annual seasonal flu vaccine (either the flu shot or the nasal-spray flu vaccine) is the best way to reduce the chances that you will get seasonal flu and lessen the chance that you will spread it to others. When more people get vaccinated against the flu, less flu can spread through that community.

---

Almost everyone who is at least 6 months of age should get a flu vaccine this season. It’s especially important for some people to get vaccinated. Those people include the following:

People who are at high risk of developing serious complications like pneumonia if they get sick with the flu. This includes:

• People who have certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.
• Pregnant women.
• People 65 years and older

People who live with or care for others who are high risk of developing serious complications. This includes:

• household contacts and caregivers of people with certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.

---

Who Should Not Be Vaccinated
There are some people who should not get a flu vaccine without first consulting a physician. These include:

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination.
• People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine.
• Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group), and
• People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated.)

[Source for all of the above: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine]

---

Where can you get a flu shot?

Contact your primary care doctor's office or your local pharmacist to see if they offer flu shots.

Adult Immunization & Travel Clinic: AITC is a non-profit, fee-for-service clinic that is part of the San Francisco Department of Public Health. AITC is committed to providing convenient, knowledgeable, personalized, and cost-effective immunization services for travelers, students, new employees, immigrants, and other members of the community. Information is available at http://www.sfcdcp.org/aitc.html

HealthMap Vaccine Finder

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Cold or Flu?
[From UCSF Medical Center Patient Education]

Treatment for the Flu
[From UCSF Medical Center Patient Education]

When to Call Your Doctor About the Flu
[From UCSF Medical Center Patient Education]

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Seasonal Influenza (Flu)

Nearly everyone 6 months of age and older should get a yearly flu vaccine. Ample supplies of influenza vaccine are now available. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for your body to develop an immune response. Get vaccinated now so that you will be protected when flu season begins. In the United States, influenza season usually begins in October and can last until May. [From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)]

People at High Risk of Developing Flu-Related Complications
[From the CDC]


Who Should Not Be Vaccinated
There are some people who should not get a flu vaccine without first consulting a physician. These include:

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination.
• People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine.
• Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group), and
• People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated.)

[From the CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm ]
 

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Where can you get a flu shot?

Contact your primary care doctor's office or your local pharmacist to see if they offer flu shots.

Adult Immunization & Travel Clinic: AITC is a non-profit, fee-for-service clinic that is part of the San Francisco Department of Public Health. AITC is committed to providing convenient, knowledgeable, personalized, and cost-effective immunization services for travelers, students, new employees, immigrants, and other members of the community. Information is available at http://www.sfcdcp.org/aitc.html

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Cold or Flu?
[From UCSF Medical Center Patient Education]

Treatment for the Flu
[From UCSF Medical Center Patient Education]

When to Call Your Doctor About the Flu
[From UCSF Medical Center Patient Education]

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