Flu Vaccine Effectiveness

As of January, 85 flu related deaths have been confirmed since the beginning of the 2017-2018 influenza season. Each year we experience what is known as flu season, with new strains of the virus infecting millions of people each year, some years receiving a flu vaccine is not sufficient

According to Center for Disease Control (CDC), influenza viruses are divided into three types, designated as A, B, and C. Influenza type C usually only causes either very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. Types A and B, however, are responsible for epidemics of respiratory illnesses that can result in hospitalization, or even death. Influenza is constantly changing over time by mutations. This continual change allows the virus to evade the antibodies that were meant to kill it. A host infected with influenza virus develops antibodies against that virus; as the virus changes, the "first" antibody no longer recognizes the "newer" virus and infection can occur because the host does not recognize the new flu virus as a problem until the infection is well under way. The first antibody developed may, in some instances, provide partial protection against infection with a new influenza virus. According to Medicine Net.com, In 2009, almost all individuals had no antibodies that could recognize the novel H1N1 virus immediately. It quickly spread throughout the world so fast that the WHO declared this new flu strain (termed novel H1N1 influenza A swine flu). There are currently four main strains of influenza circulating worldwide. Three of the viruses are type A, and one is type B. Type A viruses are divided into subtypes based on the differences in two viral proteins called hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). The three subtypes of influenza A are A(H1N1), A(H3N2), and A(H5N1). The reason for several strands of type A are because of the two kinds of change influenza A

Each new strain of the virus must be identified and that is usually done around February for the appropriate development and dispersal of a new vaccine for later that year. They do this by collecting strains of the flu virus from about 100 centers worldwide and then they analyze them in a laboratory. They take this information and use it to decide on the arrangement of the vaccines that are being offered for the following flu season. Also, there are two types of vaccines one that is injected and another that is a nasal-spray vaccine both that are made with live, attenuated virus. Flu vaccines specifically are recommended each year as this article mentions simply because “New flu vaccines are released every year to keep up with rapidly adapting flu viruses” (Mayo). This makes since because flu viruses change so quickly therefore last year's vaccine may not protect someone from the viruses of the upcoming years. Also after vaccination, one’s immune system does produce antibodies that will protect them from the vaccine viruses. Overall the fact that antibody levels start to decrease over time that makes it another reason to get a flu shot every

Lethal Injection: A study of influenza vaccines Every fall season we hear the question; did you get your flu shot yet? It is supposed to protect you from that nasty flu virus that circulates our communities during the fall and winter months. But, did you know that in 2011 the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Adverse Event Reporting Systems Website (AERS) reported 51 deaths caused by the flu vaccine in the United States (U.S.) (CDC,2012). According to National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC), as of July 2012 there have been more than 84,000 reports of adverse reactions, 1000 vaccine related deaths and over 1600 cases of Guillain- Barre syndrome, a acute form of paralysis, triggered by the vaccine (NVIC.ORG).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “It's estimated that 90 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths and more than 60 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations in the United States each year occur in people 65 years and older “ (2011).The CDC advises that the best way to prevent and control the spread of influenza each year is by the use of vaccinnations. In effort to control and prevent influenza epidemics, the CDC uses the epidemiological process to predict the strain of the virus that will be most relevant to the population and this data is used to formulate influenza vaccinations (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011).

Today I got to experience giving middle school and high school students’ flu shots at Lanier County Middle/High School. I was expecting the students to be nervous and show signs of intimidation at the sight of the needle. Before going to the school, I helped the nurse gather the equipment we were going to use, which included, the influenza immunizations, Band-Aids, alcohol prep wipes, and gloves. We also brought colorful pencils and stickers for the students after receiving their flu shot. The nurse also made sure to bring the emergency kit, which consisted of epinephrine, just in case anyone had an allergic reaction.

To answer my research question I will first review literature on flu vaccines from conventional sources such as the Center for Disease Control and National Institute for Health. I will then review other material available on the Internet written by doctors that do not agree with the conventional

After you finish confirming appointments for tomorrow, I need you to go over every provider schedule for patients that has flu shot, and pap appointment. The flu shot you’re going to reschedule them to next month for the reason that we don’t have flu vaccines. The pap smear you’re going to check if is due, If is not due please reschedule

There is a division in the medical community about the benefits of getting vaccinated against the flu. Some medical professionals insist that vaccination against the flu can decrease death by fifty percent, while others provide evidence against such a claim. It is difficult to determine how many people die from the flu, who has the flu, and which strain of the flu someone has. There are over 200 viruses that cause flu like systems. In reality, researchers believe that only 7 or 8 percent of cases of people actually contract the flu that report systems associated with the flu such as, headache, fever, coughing, etc. The flu can mutate very quickly causing the virus to differ every flu season if only slightly. Thus, members of the World Health

I think you brought a good point that relates to some of the price marketing strategies some health care organization use when it comes to the different in price for same service. The price for a flu shot that you mention is a really good example of this type of marketing. Using my mother as an example, I know the place she gets her flu shot is a pharmacy that some time even offers free flu shots. However, this pharmacy is not where she regularly gets her prescription filled, she only goes to this particular pharmacy when she needs the flu shot, but also picks up her prescription there that time since she is already at the pharmacy. Now the pharmacy provides a free flu shot but made hundreds of dollars on my mom’s prescription which if it was

Referring to question 2, it is unfortunate that the son of the elderly client were non-compliant in taking the flu shot despite teaching. However, people sometime are negative or dismiss information that has been given to them, because of barriers. Barriers such as reading and writing can be a major obstacle in teaching a person who cannot read or write. Therefore, it is important as nurses not only to assess the health status of an individual; we should also assess their knowledge and understanding to know how much they know about the diseases/treatment. Beagley (2011), believes that “assessing and evaluating the learning needs of the patient are essential before planning and implementation of an educational plan” (p. 331). The US department

Discussion/Findings: An article in 2012 has found that the flu shots are 32% effective in preventing hospitalizations for older adults (>55), 64% effective in preventing deaths from influenza in older adults, and 49% effective in preventing deaths and hospitalizations from influenza

Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Network data for the 2016-2017 influenza season.” (AAFP, 2017) The percentage of effectiveness is dependent upon two factors that determine the likelihood of the flu vaccines protection on a person: “1) characteristics of the person being vaccinated (such as their age and health), and 2) the similarity or "match" between the flu viruses the flu vaccine is designed to protect against and the flu viruses spreading in the community.” (CDC, 2017) The CDC reported “this year’s flu vaccine” to be “48 percent effective in prevention laboratory-confirmed influenza A and B viral infection associated with medically attended acute respiratory illness. The exact interim effectiveness estimates are 43 percent against the predominant influenza A (H3N2) viruses and 73 percent against influenza B viruses.” (AAFP, 2017) The AAFP reported on February 21, 2017, that these estimates have stood up against previous year’s effectiveness rate when the vaccine has been labeled as being well-matched. Currently the U.S. is working through eight weeks of elevated flu activity where it is leaving the Northwest and increasing activity in other areas like the Midwest and East Coast. Although the flu season is getting closer to its close, the CDC still recommends that people to continue to get vaccinated due to some flu seasons previously continuing all the way through

I will be focusing on which vaccine would be more useful in order to prevent the flu. If you have had the flu, you know that it is miserable experience which is why it’s important to know what vaccine can fight it more adequately. The vacines that were tested and that are available, the nasal spray and shot. Nasal spray is an option to consider for peple who do not tolerate needles well and can be easier for children, but most people are more familiar with the flu shot. A thousand participants were equally divided into two groups, one half received the nasal spray and the other half received the flu shot. Neither vaccine completely stopped participants from catching the flu, but the data did show differences. The nasal spray data showed that

A-H3N2 Strain This season has witnessed the presence and impact that two flu strains, the A-H1N1, and the A-H3N2, but it is the A-H3N2 that is the main culprit guilty of causing the majority of influenza incidents this season. The A-H3N2 is noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as being linked to serious ailment in people over 65 and young kids, with at-risk kids being those under the age of 2. It is a rapidly mutating virus and is capable of evading vaccine, which is characterized as being 30% effective against the A-H3N2 strain. This means that this virus is nastier, capable of sending more people to the hospital, complicating underlying conditions, and causing more deaths.