FLUJABS.ORG - Frequently Asked Questions

A: It’s been a while since there’s been a big outbreak, nobody knows when the next outbreak will occur.

Individual protection could be important if there was a flu pandemic (global outbreak).

Q: What strains does this year’s flu vaccine cover?

A: The WHO and EU recommendations for northern hemisphere flu vaccines for 2005/2006 are:

A: The commonest symptoms are: rapid onset of fever, shivering, headache, muscle aches, and a cough. Flu causes a much more severe illness than the common cold: a cold doesn’t cause fever or muscle aches.

People with flu can feel very ill indeed, often resulting in several days of being confined to bed. Most people recover easily, but would have much preferred to avoid the experience altogether, which is where flu vaccine comes in.

For some victims, flu can cause more serious complications, like bronchitis and pneumonia - potentially life-threatening in the elderly, asthmatics and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

Q: Does infection with flu give immunity?

A: Only to the particular strain of flu that caused the infection. The virus changes over time, and new strains appear. Protection from past infection or previous vaccination is unreliable - the most effective way of increasing your protection is to be vaccinated every year.

Q: What are the benefits of flu vaccination - should I bother?

A: The benefits of vaccination to healthy, working adults and their employers are well-established: vaccination cuts the risk of 'flu by approximately 70-80%, and reduces time off work from colds and flu by forty three per cent. Each winter, approximately 33 per cent of British adults are believed to suffer from flu, and one third of sufferers are ill enough to visit their doctor.

For companies and organizations, the potential benefits are even greater than the benefits to the individual: respiratory viruses can spread easily within any large group of people, working together and sharing facilities on the same site. It is to everyone's advantage that as many people as possible within the same organization should be protected.

Q: I’m travelling – should I be vaccinated against flu?

A: We strongly recommend flu vaccination for anyone who might be travelling this winter – on business or for pleasure, since flu spreads readily on aircraft (and also on cruise ships) and could seriously spoil your plans.

Q: How effective is the vaccine? - If I have a flu jab, can I still get flu?

A: Flu vaccinations are 70-80% effective, provided that there is a good match between the strains used to make the vaccine, and the strains of flu that are going around. There are very sophisticated systems in place for monitoring strains of flu around the world, so it is increasingly possible to predict which strains are most likely to cause trouble.

Protection is excellent against the strains from which the vaccine is made, and even if you catch the flu, the illness will almost certainly be milder than if you had not been vaccinated.

Q: How long does it take to work?

A: About 2-3 weeks.

Q: When is the best time to be vaccinated?

A: The best time to be vaccinated is between late September and November, ready for the winter. If you wait until there is a flu epidemic in progress, it won’t otherwise be possible for you to get good protection quickly enough.

Q: How long does the flu jab last for?

A: About 6-12 months. The vaccine protects against different strains, and the protection against some of the strains may last longer than others. Longer lasting flu vaccines are currently at a research stage.

Q: Does flu vaccine have any side effects?

A: Flu vaccines are very safe. The commonest problem after vaccination is slight soreness of the arm at the point where the injection was given; and less often, slight temperature and aching muscles can occur for a couple of days, but this responds easily to remedies like paracetamol.

The risk of more serious reactions is extremely small - of the order of one in a million, or less; and considerably smaller than the risk of serious complications from the illness itself.

Q: Can flu vaccine cause flu?

A: Flu vaccine cannot cause infection because it doesn't contain live virus.

Q: I am allergic to eggs - can I still have the flu jab?

A: Well-documented, severe allergy means that you should not be vaccinated. If you are uncertain, talk things over with your doctor, or with the doctor or nurse giving the vaccine.

Q: Is it OK to have a flu jab if I am pregnant or trying to have a baby?

A: There is no evidence that the vaccine would cause any harm to the foetus, but the vaccine is not usually given during the first three months of pregnancy unless the mother would be especially vulnerable to the complications of flu - if she suffered from asthma, for example.

The vaccine is not generally given if you think you might be pregnant. If you are considering pregnancy in the coming months, it would be sensible to consider vaccination before you become pregnant. The vaccine can be used routinely after the 12th week of pregnancy.

Q: Is it OK to have a flu jab if I am breastfeeding?

A: Yes.

Q: Will the vaccine react with any medication?

A: Please tell the doctor or nurse giving the vaccine about any important aspects of your medical history, and about any medication you are taking. Flu vaccine does not interact with any other vaccine or medication. However, any treatment that might reduce your immunity can reduce the effectiveness of the immune response.

Vaccination can briefly affect the results of certain types of blood tests (serology tests), so if you have a blood test within a few days of being vaccinated, please ask the person taking the blood sample to mention your flu jab on the laboratory form.

Q: Can I go to the gym after a flu vaccine?

A: It is generally considered sensible to avoid strenuous exercise for several hours after vaccination, but this is not an absolute rule: if you do go, take it easy.

Q: Can I drink alcohol after the flu vaccine?

A: It is also considered sensible to avoid alcohol for several hours, but similarly this is not an absolute rule: if you must drink, drink moderately.

Q: Can my children have the flu vaccine?

A: There’s no reason not to vaccinate children, though if they’ve not been vaccinated before they generally need a second dose 4 weeks after the first, for full effect. Children can be vaccinated from the age of six months.

Q: Do you recommend the flu vaccine if travelling abroad?

A: Yes. There’s a higher risk of transmission of airborne infection during flights, and the vaccine will offer valuable protection. There have also been well-documented outbreaks of flu on cruise ships, so flu vaccination is a precaution that is well worth taking.

Q: I've never had a flu jab before - and I've never had flu. Why should I be vaccinated now?

A: Past success in avoiding flu won't guarantee you'll be protected in future. It's up to you to choose between playing the odds and taking a positive step to protect yourself.

Q: I have small children. Is there any danger of passing infection to them, if I have a flu jab?

A: No. The flu vaccine does not contain live virus.

Q: I'm a strict vegetarian, is it OK for me to have the vaccine?

A: The vaccine production process includes culture in embryonated hens' eggs. Only a trace of egg protein remains in the vaccine, but some strict vegetarians may object to this. If you have religious reasons for avoiding eggs, you should take appropriate religious advice.

Q: How can I find out more about flu and flu vaccination?

A: If you have specific questions about you own medical history and circumstances, we'll do our best to help when you book in for an appointment. For general information, see the links page.