In case you missed it, Dr. Turner Overton, a doctor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at UAB, and an investigator heading up a flu vaccine study, answered all sorts of flu questions in a Live Chat Tuesday with AL.com.
Here are highlights from that chat:
How effective is the flu vaccine and is it too late to get one?
The flu vaccine this year is actually very good. Of the influenza strains typed this year from people who became infected, over 91% match to the vaccine strains. The vaccine has reduced visits for influenza and influenza-like illnesses by over 60%. This is a tremendous benefit to our health care system.
It is not!!! too late to get your flu shot. It is our most effective form of prevention against the flu. In general, flu season does not peak till February or March so I am encouraging people to go get vaccinated.
Dr. Overton, as someone who has just gotten over what I think was a "bad cold," how would I know? When should you worry about whether your cold is the flu?
The only way you can be absolutely certain is to get tested for influenza by your health care provider. That being said, influenza causes a certain constellation of symptoms that are more severe than a usual cold: severe muscle aches and headache are common with the flu. These are often disabling. The cough is often mild compared to other respiratory viruses.
With the early and severe onset of the flu virus this season, does that mean the typical Feb-March peak season might be less severe this year?
It is hard to know. The data from the CDC suggests that we have plateaued in terms of incidence but we may still see a late increase.
Doctor, thank you for being here. Question: My Mom is in an assisted living facility and I visit her weekly. Is the risk greater of my taking germs in to a community living environment like that, or picking up germs there and bringing them home to my household? (The safety and cleanliness practices there seem very, very good, btw.)
Any time you have communal living such as a school dormitory or an assisted living facility, respiratory pathogens such as influenza can circulate more readily. You can take these pathogens there or acquire them there. We urge people who are sick possibly with flu to avoid visiting such places.
To protect yourself and your loved ones, you should get vaccinated and wash your hands frequently.
Is the flu vaccine safe/effective for pregnant women?
Yes. The vaccine is safe and effective for pregnant women. This is a particularly at risk population so they are encouraged to get vaccinated. A recent study led by Dr. Geeta Swamy from Duke University confirmed that the influenza vaccine is safe and effective for pregnant women.
Dr. Overton, I'm a type 1 diabetic, and I get a flu shot every year. I know people with conditions like mine should get a shot every year, but are my chances of getting the flu higher than the average vaccinated person?
Your risk of getting infected is no different from other people. However, if you contract influenza, you are likely to have a more severe case. People with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes are encouraged to complete preventive vaccines such as influenza. The risk of influenza depends more upon whether you come in contact with another person who is infected.
However, your diabetes puts you at risk for more severe infection.
The guy in the next cubicle has been hacking and sneezing all day. Any sense in spraying Lysol all over everything within his vicinity? Can I punch him?
I would avoid any physical altercation. Disinfectants can work to kill the influenza virus. It can remain on surfaces for several hours so there is some risk for infection.
Personal hygiene is very important to prevent the flu. Coughing into your sleeve or elbow (dracula cough), lots of hand washing, and wiping down surfaces with disinfectant. People who may have the flu should not come to work. That being said, there are other respiratory viruses that are circulating and causing some serious "colds" this season. These often cause lots of sneezing and congestion without muscle aches, fever, or headache.
How long is a person contagious when/after having the flu?
A person is infectious 1-2 days before they develop symptoms and up to 1 day after the fever with influenza resolves. During this period, they are shedding virus in their respiratory secretions that can unfortunately be transmitted to another person. We usually ask persons to stay home from work till 24 hours after the fever resolves. Most people are infectious for 2-5 days.
Certain persons who are immune-compromised such as transplant patients can shed virus for up to 2 weeks.
What do you think has been the greatest scientific advantage modern medicine has made against the spread of the flu? Do you even think we will ever see another one like the 1918 flu pandemic?
Vaccines have made the greatest impact in terms of reducing the severity of influenza. We are always at risk for a pandemic flu like 1918 because there are numerous strains in birds that do not cause disease in birds but can cause disease in humans. Fortunately, they generally do not transmit very well from person to person. Withe modern transportation, influenza can spread very rapidly. That being said, our surveillance systems are much better and our ability to rapidly produce vaccines in response to such a pandemic are improving. If we can maintain our infrastructure, we should be able to prevent such a pandemic. we must remain vigilant and work with colleagues around the globe to prevent such an event.
Dr. Overton, you are heading up a flu vaccine study. Are you at liberty to tell us a little about what you are doing?
We are working to make a better flu vaccine. One of the challenges regarding influenza is that persons have to get vaccinated every year. There are 2 reasons for this: 1. the flu virus evolves every year and is a little different and 2) the immunity generated by the vaccine wanes after about a year. WE are working to make the response to flu vaccine greater (and thus last longer) and to make the response broader (i.e. cover more strains of influenza). If it works, then the vaccine would last for several years and we would have protection when the strain mutates away from current vaccines.
Dr. Overton, we appreciate your time and timely answers. You answered a lot of questions. Good luck on your research!
I enjoyed the interactive hour. Please feel free to look at our website
To learn more about vaccines!
Have a great day.