To be Administered Annually
Influenza, commonly known as "the flu," is a serious, infectious, respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. It is NOT the upset stomach popularly known as the "stomach flu." The national flu vaccine is determined each year by the CDC. The flu vaccine is generally made up of 3 virus strains which are termed "killed viruses." These 3 dead strains are predetermined as the most likely to affect the U.S. population the following flu season. Since the virus strains are "killed" it is impossible to catch the flu from a flu vaccination.
The U.S. Surgeon General's office has determined that the most effective way to protect against the flu is to receive an annual flu vaccination.
Each year the national vaccine must be recreated to include the 3 virus strains that are most likely to circulate in the United States the following season.
This year's flu vaccine contains the following 3-strains: A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1)-like (new for this season), A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like, and B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like viruses.
The flu vaccine offers a 6 to 8 month window of protection. Initial immunity is approximately 50% upon receiving the vaccination, with full immunity within 2 weeks.
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