• Know the Difference Between a Cold and H1N1 Symptoms - October 29, 2009
• Vaccination Myth Busters - October 27, 2009
• As you know, the fall flu season is quickly approaching... - September 2, 2009

Know the Difference Between a Cold and H1N1 Symptoms - October 29, 2009

It’s important to remember, nothing will protect you and your family better this flu season than receiving the flu vaccines and using healthy habits (wash your hands often, cover your cough and stay home if you are sick). It’s also important to know the differences between cold and H1N1 symptoms.

SYMPTOM	COLD	H1N1
Fever	Fever is rare with a cold.	Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100 or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
Coughing	A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.	A nonproductive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
Aches	Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.	Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
Stuffy Nose	Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.	Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.
Chills	Chills are uncommon with a cold.	60% of people who have the flu experience chills.
Tiredness	Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.	Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.
Sneezing	Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.	Sneezing is not common with the flu.
Sudden Symptoms	Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.	The flu has a rapid onset within 1 - 4 days. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
Headache	A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.	A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
Sore Throat	Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.	Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu.
Chest Discomfort	Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.	Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.

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Vaccination Myth Busters - October 27, 2009

MYTH: “I got a flu shot but got the flu anyway.”

• Other viruses have the same symptoms as flu. You may have caught one of these bugs and developed a “flu-like” illness after being vaccinated.
• You may have become infected by a strain of flu virus not covered by the current year’s vaccine.

MYTH: “My immune system is strong, so I don’t need the vaccine.”

• Symptoms of the flu are sometimes very mild.
• One study showed that half of the people infected with the flu virus had such mild symptoms that they didn’t even know they were sick and spreading the virus to others.

MYTH: “I never get the flu, so I don’t need the vaccine.”

• A study of unvaccinated nurses showed many had developed a new antibody to a strain of flu but never reported being ill. Many even went to work because they didn’t feel sick.
• Even though you don’t have flu symptoms, you can spread flu virus to others for up to a week.

MYTH: “The flu shot made me sick.”

• Redness, swelling and soreness at the injection site occurs in about 15-20 percent of vaccinations. It usually lasts only a couple of days.
• Fever, chills and muscle pain occur in less than one percent of vaccinations.
• Allergic reactions are rare and usually are related to the residual egg protein used to create the vaccine.

MYTH: “I can’t have the flu shot because I am pregnant.”

• If a pregnant woman catches the flu, her risk of hospitalization is four times higher compared to non-pregnant women!
• Vaccination with inactivated flu vaccine is recommended for all women who are pregnant during flu season.
• You can get a seasonal flu vaccine any time during your pregnancy.
• Pregnant women are at higher risk for potential complications from the H1N1 flu virus. Once the vaccine becomes available, pregnant women should get the H1N1 vaccine.

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As you know, the fall flu season is quickly approaching... - September 2, 2009

As you know, the fall flu season is quickly approaching – and this year we expect things to be different. While no one can predict the course for novel H1N1 influenza, it has the potential to sicken millions in our state in the months ahead. As many as 1 in 4 Californians may be affected.

The CDC says there are three steps to take in fighting the flu. The first step: Vaccinate!

Vaccination is the single best way to protect yourself and the people you love from influenza. All healthcare professionals, as well as those in training for healthcare professions, should be vaccinated annually against influenza.

Seasonal flu vaccine clinics for Alta Bates Summit staff will begin the week of September 7.

• Take time to get a flu vaccine.
• CDC recommends a yearly (seasonal) flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease.
• While there are many different flu viruses, the yearly flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season.
• The vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses or it can make your illness milder if you get a different flu virus.
• Getting a vaccine is very important for people at high risk for serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years or older.
• Seasonal flu vaccine is also important for health care workers, and other people who live with or care for high risk people to prevent giving the flu to those at high risk.
• The seasonal vaccine will not protect you against novel H1N1 (swine flu).
• A new vaccine against novel H1N1 is being produced and will be available in the coming months for prevention of novel H1N1 infection. This will require additional vaccination that is separate from seasonal flu vaccine. H1N1 vaccine will be given in two separate vaccinations – about 30 days apart.
• People at greatest risk for novel H1N1 infection include children, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease.

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