Vaccinations are available; flu season is here

COLUMBUS -- The coming months are prime flu season, and Occupational Health Services is supplying vaccinations to ward off the virus.

About 150 workplaces will be visited by Occupational Health nurses before the end of November. They will administer shots to about 8,000 employees.

Flu outbreaks can occur beginning October with peak times in January or later, said Amy Blaser, director of Occupational Health Services. Her office has plenty of openings to schedule workplace vaccinations and can be available for all shifts and weekends.

Blaser said there is an adequate supply of flu vaccinations this year. Shots also are available from health care providers, the health district and at some area grocery stores.

Each year, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and about 36,000 American die from it.

The vaccination is recommended for everyone who wants to lessen their chances of getting the flu, especially those at high risk of having flu complications. Those who shouldn’t get the vaccination are those who have severe allergy to chicken eggs or who have severe reaction to influenza vaccination, those who developed Guillain-Barre syndrome within six weeks of getting an influenza vaccine or those who had a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever.

Blaser said it takes two weeks for a shot to become effective, so now is the optimal time to receive a vaccination before the heightened flu season arrives.

The flu last year was the worst it had been in the last four years. Because there are multiple strains of the flu, predicting what the flu season will be like year to year is difficult, Blaser said. A new vaccine containing three influenza viruses is created each year based on which viruses are predicted to be the hardest hitting.

“One of the biggest challenges in the fight against influenza is producing vaccines every year. There is no other instance where new vaccines must be made every year,” Blaser said.

Getting a flu shot is the best way to prevent getting the flu. Some falsely believe that receiving the shot can cause the flu. But Blaser said the shot is from an inactive vaccine. If illness does occur after receiving a shot that is because the person was already incubating a virus.

The nasal spray of the flu vaccine is made with weakened viruses and also does not cause the flu.

Both the shot and the spray are effective, and two weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body.

Getting a flu vaccine is the best defense from the flu, but there are other steps, Blaser said, that can limit the spread of germs, including:

• Covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough.

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 15-20 seconds. Use alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers when soap and water are not available.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

• Stay home when you are sick and check with a health care provider when needed.

• Practice other good health hygiene habits.

Those interested in scheduling a flu shot clinic at their workplace should call Occupational Health Services at 562-4480.