At Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists, we see the many joys of October: Cooler days, Falling Leaves, cute children at Halloween. There is however, one aspect of the fall season that is not a joy. The end of October marks the beginning of flu season.
This means it is almost time for flu vaccinations, or the sometimes dreaded “flu shots.”
Breaking News: What’s New With the Flu?
The Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists have some flu news headlines for you. First we will give you the main developments about the 2016-2017 flu, then follow up with some details
New Flu Info 2016-17
based on each of them, in our two part coverage of this important issue.
1. We, like the CDC, endorse only injectable flu shots this season.
2. You will soon see some brand new flu vaccines.
3. Scientists have developed some new options for flu vaccines. These options match and hopefully will overcome the newly circulating viruses.
4. People with egg allergies will see some new rules.
Flu News Headline 1: Injectable Flu Shots Only, Please!
Caution! Reputable healthcare services will not be offering the nasal spray style of flu vaccination known as Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine. (LAIV) The CDC and other experts now question nasal spray as an effective means of preventing the flu during the 2016-17 Season.
Flu News Headline 2: The New Flu Vaccines
First of all, during this season, there is something new in the approved vaccine for people 65 and older. The new ingredient is called adjuvant. The term adjuvant refers to a “vaccine ingredient that helps create a stronger immune response in the patient’s body.” This new vaccine is named FLUAD.
Flu Vaccines Are Researched Every Year.
Likewise, this season, a special flu shot that protects against four flu viruses will be available for the first time in the U.S The name of it is “FLUCELVAX™.
Last season, FLUCELVAX™ protected against three flu viruses. This year FLUCELVAX™ is approved for use in people 4 years and older. This vaccine has been created from made with virus grown in cell culture.
Recombinant vaccine has also made the news for 2016-17. To create it, scientists also developed a flu shot in which they utilized vaccine production technology instead of using the flu virus.
Flu News Number 3: Name That Virus!
Experts tell us, “there are many flu viruses and they are constantly changing.” Every year scientists must research the data concerning flu viruses. Before they can develop the vaccines, they must identify the newly mutated and most common strains.
Once the viruses are identified, the researchers develop combative vaccines against the top three or four most common types of flu viruses. Just so you will recognize these viruses if they make news in this flu season of 2016-2017, we list them below.
Three-component vaccines contain protection from these:
Be A Hero: Take Your Flu Shot.
A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-This is a pdm09-like virus,
A/Hong Kong/4801/2014- This one is similar to (H3N2)
And B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus (B/Victoria lineage).
Four-component vaccines include the same three viruses above, plus: a virus called B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus (B/Yamagata lineage).
Whatever the name of the virus that attacks you or your family, it is certain to bring the usual symptoms of flu misery. The doctors and staff of Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists sincerely hope you will take your annual flu shot.
If you won’t take the flu shot for yourself, we implore you to take your flu shot for the people you love. In fact, FLASS advises you to take your flu shot in honor of the very old, the very young, and the infirm people you might meet. You can even be a flu-shot hero, and take it to protect the stranger on the street.
Remember, no matter what the strain, or what the year, or what name you give the virus, the flu is very contagious. Make 2016-2017 the season you do not catch it–or spread it. Thank you for reading Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists’ blog. We hope you return next week, for more information in Flu Season 2016-17 Breaking News, Part II.
