Influenza Vaccine Information Sheet

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VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT
Influenza Vaccine
(Flu Vaccine, Live,
Many Vaccine Information Statements are
Intranasal)
available in Spanish and other languages.
See
What You Need to Know
2013-2014
Hojas de información sobre vacunas están
disponibles en español y en muchos otros
idiomas. Visite
injection with a needle. This vaccine is described in a
1
Why get vaccinated?
separate Vaccine Information Statement.
Flu vaccine is recommended every year. Children 6
Influenza (“flu”) is a contagious disease that spreads
months through 8 years of age should get two doses the
around the United States every winter, usually between
first year they get vaccinated.
October and May.
Flu viruses are always changing. Each year’s flu vaccine
Flu is caused by the influenza virus, and can be spread
is made to protect from viruses that are most likely to
by coughing, sneezing, and close contact.
cause disease that year. While flu vaccine cannot prevent
Anyone can get flu, but the risk of getting flu is highest
all cases of flu, it is our best defense against the disease.
among children. Symptoms come on suddenly and may
LAIV protects against 4 different influenza viruses.
last several days. They can include:
It takes about 2 weeks for protection to develop after
• fever/chills
the vaccination, and protection lasts several months to a
• sore throat
year.
• muscle aches
• fatigue
Some illnesses that are not caused by influenza virus are
• cough
often mistaken for flu. Flu vaccine will not prevent these
• headache
illnesses. It can only prevent influenza.
• runny or stuffy nose
LAIV may be given to people 2 through 49 years of
Flu can make some people much sicker than others.
age, who are not pregnant. It may safely be given at the
These people include young children, people 65 and
same time as other vaccines.
older, pregnant women, and people with certain health
LAIV does not contain thimerosal or other preservatives.
conditions—such as heart, lung or kidney disease, or
a weakened immune system. Flu vaccine is especially
Some people should not get
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important for these people, and anyone in close contact
this vaccine
with them.
Flu can also lead to pneumonia, and make existing
Tell the person who gives you the vaccine:
medical conditions worse. It can cause diarrhea and
• If you have any severe (life-threatening) allergies,
seizures in children.
including an allergy to eggs. If you ever had a life-
threatening allergic reaction after a dose of flu vaccine,
Each year thousands of people in the United States die
or have a severe allergy to any part of this vaccine, you
from flu, and many more are hospitalized.
should not get a dose.
Flu vaccine is the best protection we have from flu
• If you ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome (a severe
and its complications. Flu vaccine also helps prevent
paralyzing illness, also called GBS). Some people
spreading flu from person to person.
with a history of GBS should not get this vaccine. This
should be discussed with your doctor.
Live, attenuated flu
2
• If you have gotten any other vaccines in the past
vaccine — LAIV, Nasal Spray
4 weeks, or if you are not feeling well. They might
suggest waiting. But you should come back.
There are two types of influenza vaccine:
You are getting a live, attenuated influenza vaccine
(called LAIV), which is sprayed into the nose.
“Attenuated” means weakened. The viruses in the
vaccine have been weakened so they can’t make you
sick.
A different vaccine, the “flu shot,” is an inactivated
vaccine (not containing live virus). It is given by

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