The flu virus was blamed for more than 50,000 deaths within the US in 2014. Many of those were in high-risk groups: 65+, under the age of 4, and those with a chronic disease such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, COPD, and others. Schneck Medical Center is a strong advocate of the flu vaccination. You need one each year at the beginning of flu season. It will take two weeks for your body to grow the antibodies to fight off the flu.
Listen in as Dr. David Hartung explains the importance of getting your flu vaccine every year.
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The Importance of Getting the Flu Shot At Every Age
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Learn more about David J. Hartung, D.O
David J. Hartung, DO
David J. Hartung, D.O attended the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. He joined the medical staff of Schneck Medical Center 2005.Learn more about David J. Hartung, D.O
Transcription:
The Importance of Getting the Flu Shot At Every Age
Bill Klaproth (Host): It's that time of year when we should all get a flu shot. Even healthy people can get the flu and should get the flu shot. Every flu season is different. Here to tell us more is Dr. David Hartung, a physician at Schneck Medical Center. Dr. Hartung, thank you for your time today. So, it seems like every year we have to encourage people to get vaccinated. Why the continued apathy for the flu shot?
Dr. David Hartung (Guest): It is amazing. It's funny when I think about the people who I say, “You know, you should get your flu shot,” and who tell me they'd rather not have it. Usually, these folks never had a flu or never had a family member who've had it. I've heard several stories of people who were, as you said, kind of apathetic kind of thing. “Oh, I’m pretty healthy,” who got a flu one year and then have never missed their shot since.
Bill: Right. So, that's very important to remember. Even healthy people can get the flu. So, it is important to get the flu shot.
Dr. Hartung: Absolutely. And, what people, I think, forget sometimes is, while they themselves may be healthy and may get the flu and get through it okay, they could come in contact with those other populations that are at much higher risk. So, anything that we can do in our community to reduce the chance of spreading the flu is good. That's probably the biggest reason for people who are healthy would be, not for themselves but maybe their loved ones or their contacts, co-workers or other folks like that.
Bill: And, even healthy young people like college students that go to class and live in close quarters with other people like you just mentioned, you can transfer it and you can catch it. And, when you're in those situations, we are all kind of crumpled together, I mean, it's just a big mess. You know, cafeterias are busy and everybody touching different things. I mean, that's why young, healthy people should consider the flu shot, right?
Dr. Hartung: Absolutely. We start at age 6 months and up. We want to get the kids vaccinated early and yearly so they can kind of develop these immunities. People say sometimes the flu shot won't work, and that can be true, but even the years that it's not the perfect match to the strains that we're looking for, the different kinds of flu that there are, you have a good chance of reducing the severity of just how bad it feels. So, we definitely encourage all folks always no matter where you are at, to get a flu shot once a year.
Bill: Which is very important. You touched on the different strains. So, each year, there are different strains of the flu. What about this year?
Dr. Hartung: Yes. Typically, there are always going to be two kinds of flu, broadly categorized strains, the A-strain and the B-strain. So, there are lots and lots and lots of different types. People have heard of, maybe the swine flu, H1N1, so, what they do, that when they're trying to make up a flu shot is pick the ones that they think are going be the worst players for that year. They actually have to start making the flu shot six months before they actually can produce them to get them out to people. There's a bit of educated guess there and that's why sometimes we see this where the flu shots are not as good maybe as we want it to be because they just didn't pick the right strain.
Bill: And, what about the elderly and pregnant women? What are the guidelines for those people?
Dr. Hartung: Sure. The CDC has made it real too easy this year. They based and said about anybody can get the flu shot. Previously, we were worried about people's egg allergies, but only those with the most severe egg allergies should avoid the flu shot and even they can talk to their allergist. But, the people that we're really targeting when we really talk about who needs it the most are going to be the very young, the very old, and pregnant women. And that's women who are either women who are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant. There's no limitation in which trimester can you get it. The latest guidelines have said to get it whenever you can because they'd rather increase the rates of people getting the shot and not to worry about missing maybe somebody who's at a visit, and wants to get it later then we don't see them back, so really trying to push to get those immunizations whenever we see people.
Bill: That makes sense, right? When they're there in the office is the best time to do it. Now, you mentioned egg allergies. Are there other people that shouldn't get a flu shot?
Dr. Hartung: Really, folks who have had a reaction to one before. I get a lot of questions about, “What if I have severe reaction to a flu vaccine?” And that is exceedingly rare and it's very closely monitored but, really, the chance of having a very severe reaction are minimal but people who have had that kind of reaction certainly shouldn't get another flu shot. But, really, outside of some who have severe egg allergy because immunization is actually related to an egg protein which is so minuscule that they think even now that people would just mild allergies and now can just go ahead and safely get a flu shot as well. The rest, especially those people who are at risk of having complications from the flu, should get it. We’re talking about the chronically ill folks really trying to target them, get hold of them and to make sure that they don't get the flu itself.
Bill: Now, does the flu shot start working right away? How does that work?
Dr. Hartung: Usually, they say that within a couple of weeks the immunity starts. The sooner the better but it's really starting to produce the immunities or the antibodies to the flu in a few weeks' time. And that's really the point of this. It's not a live virus. There is a nasal spray that's actually a live virus but the recommendations are not to use that this year because they don't think it's going to be very effective. So, everybody's encouraged to get the flu shot which, of course, is a shot. Nobody likes shots but it's relatively painless as far as shots go and it's actually little bits of inactivated viruses. So, what it does is that it can't cause you to be sick or typically doesn’t but it makes your immune system build up a defense against those specific kinds of viruses.
Bill: So, that's a good point you just made there. Stay away from the nasal spray this year and the flu shot can't make you sick. Can you say that again? Because that is one of my questions and I'm sure you see these all the time. So, I just want to be clear. If you can just explain it one more time. Flu shot isn't going to make you sick because that's one of the questions I'm sure you get all the time. And that's what I hear, “I don't want to get the shot because it makes me sick.”
Dr. Hartung: Absolutely. I have people who told me that and I don't disbelieve them. Of course, I trust our patients and they tell me, “No, it made me sick. I don't want it again.” It really shouldn't. I mean, it's one of the sayings I've learned in medicine "never say never". Weird things happen but whether they just picked up a virus for being in the doctor's office or something of that nature, but it really shouldn't make you sick. However, I do tell people, “Well, listen, if you'd ever have actual flu, the fevers, the chills, the headaches, the sudden onset, the feeling that everybody tells that “I got hit by a MAC truck.” That is far worse than any symptoms that a flu shot could give you. Really, the most common, honestly, is soreness at the site where they have the shot. That's probably the common thing, maybe some redness. Nobody likes shots, but, really, it's relatively mild. Quick and easy.
Bill: So, you mentioned this earlier, at 6 months of age, parents should start getting their children vaccinated?
Dr. Hartung: Yes. They have the typical child immunizations that start at 2 months and they come at 2-4-6-12, but at 6 months and 1 week, the recommendation has been to add in the flu shot and most often, they’re going to have the appropriate kind of flu shot for both kids and for adults and also then for those aged 65 and above. They actually have their own special shot, the higher dose. It’s a little bit stronger, if you will, from that population because we really want to protect them so it’s a little bit, a little bit even stronger vaccine.
Bill: Well, that makes total sense. I totally can understand that. So, every year, we always say, “Every year, get a flu shot.” For somebody that is thinking, “I got a flu shot last year. It's still in my system. I know there are different strains. I don't need this.” Can you tell us why it's really important that every year you get a flu shot?
Dr. Hartung: Sure, because it goes back to that kind of educated guess that scientists make of wondering what flu is going to be present. Flus shift and that's why we see these outbreaks every year. The strains, if you will, change and how they affect the body and if the body simply will get an immunization to one strain, that will shift and the next year, that flu shot will probably not be as effective. Every now and then, we get this kind of super flu things. Of course, the swine flu from a few years ago. That is actually is still in the vaccines today to make sure that we don't have a huge outbreak of that. So, a yearly flu shot is super important because it changes every year.
Bill: So, there you go. Make sure you go out and get your flu shot today so you're protected. Dr. Hartung, why should someone choose Schneck for their vaccination needs?
Dr. Hartung: Sure. We have a lot of locations. We are proud to say that Jackson Park here at Seymour, we have partnered with Schneck, and we have a few much broader primary care options in town now. Our Jackson Park office in Seymour; our Brownstown office. There are a lot of places to go and get your flu shots. Of course, at the hospital itself, but we have plenty of vaccines available and we’d be very, very happy to take care of the community.
Bill: Dr. Hartung, thank you again for your time today. We appreciate it. For more information, you can visit www.schneckmed.org. Just go visit the website at www.schneckmed.org. This is Schneck Med Radio. I'm Bill Klaproth. Thanks for listening.
The Importance of Getting the Flu Shot At Every Age
Bill Klaproth (Host): It's that time of year when we should all get a flu shot. Even healthy people can get the flu and should get the flu shot. Every flu season is different. Here to tell us more is Dr. David Hartung, a physician at Schneck Medical Center. Dr. Hartung, thank you for your time today. So, it seems like every year we have to encourage people to get vaccinated. Why the continued apathy for the flu shot?
Dr. David Hartung (Guest): It is amazing. It's funny when I think about the people who I say, “You know, you should get your flu shot,” and who tell me they'd rather not have it. Usually, these folks never had a flu or never had a family member who've had it. I've heard several stories of people who were, as you said, kind of apathetic kind of thing. “Oh, I’m pretty healthy,” who got a flu one year and then have never missed their shot since.
Bill: Right. So, that's very important to remember. Even healthy people can get the flu. So, it is important to get the flu shot.
Dr. Hartung: Absolutely. And, what people, I think, forget sometimes is, while they themselves may be healthy and may get the flu and get through it okay, they could come in contact with those other populations that are at much higher risk. So, anything that we can do in our community to reduce the chance of spreading the flu is good. That's probably the biggest reason for people who are healthy would be, not for themselves but maybe their loved ones or their contacts, co-workers or other folks like that.
Bill: And, even healthy young people like college students that go to class and live in close quarters with other people like you just mentioned, you can transfer it and you can catch it. And, when you're in those situations, we are all kind of crumpled together, I mean, it's just a big mess. You know, cafeterias are busy and everybody touching different things. I mean, that's why young, healthy people should consider the flu shot, right?
Dr. Hartung: Absolutely. We start at age 6 months and up. We want to get the kids vaccinated early and yearly so they can kind of develop these immunities. People say sometimes the flu shot won't work, and that can be true, but even the years that it's not the perfect match to the strains that we're looking for, the different kinds of flu that there are, you have a good chance of reducing the severity of just how bad it feels. So, we definitely encourage all folks always no matter where you are at, to get a flu shot once a year.
Bill: Which is very important. You touched on the different strains. So, each year, there are different strains of the flu. What about this year?
Dr. Hartung: Yes. Typically, there are always going to be two kinds of flu, broadly categorized strains, the A-strain and the B-strain. So, there are lots and lots and lots of different types. People have heard of, maybe the swine flu, H1N1, so, what they do, that when they're trying to make up a flu shot is pick the ones that they think are going be the worst players for that year. They actually have to start making the flu shot six months before they actually can produce them to get them out to people. There's a bit of educated guess there and that's why sometimes we see this where the flu shots are not as good maybe as we want it to be because they just didn't pick the right strain.
Bill: And, what about the elderly and pregnant women? What are the guidelines for those people?
Dr. Hartung: Sure. The CDC has made it real too easy this year. They based and said about anybody can get the flu shot. Previously, we were worried about people's egg allergies, but only those with the most severe egg allergies should avoid the flu shot and even they can talk to their allergist. But, the people that we're really targeting when we really talk about who needs it the most are going to be the very young, the very old, and pregnant women. And that's women who are either women who are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant. There's no limitation in which trimester can you get it. The latest guidelines have said to get it whenever you can because they'd rather increase the rates of people getting the shot and not to worry about missing maybe somebody who's at a visit, and wants to get it later then we don't see them back, so really trying to push to get those immunizations whenever we see people.
Bill: That makes sense, right? When they're there in the office is the best time to do it. Now, you mentioned egg allergies. Are there other people that shouldn't get a flu shot?
Dr. Hartung: Really, folks who have had a reaction to one before. I get a lot of questions about, “What if I have severe reaction to a flu vaccine?” And that is exceedingly rare and it's very closely monitored but, really, the chance of having a very severe reaction are minimal but people who have had that kind of reaction certainly shouldn't get another flu shot. But, really, outside of some who have severe egg allergy because immunization is actually related to an egg protein which is so minuscule that they think even now that people would just mild allergies and now can just go ahead and safely get a flu shot as well. The rest, especially those people who are at risk of having complications from the flu, should get it. We’re talking about the chronically ill folks really trying to target them, get hold of them and to make sure that they don't get the flu itself.
Bill: Now, does the flu shot start working right away? How does that work?
Dr. Hartung: Usually, they say that within a couple of weeks the immunity starts. The sooner the better but it's really starting to produce the immunities or the antibodies to the flu in a few weeks' time. And that's really the point of this. It's not a live virus. There is a nasal spray that's actually a live virus but the recommendations are not to use that this year because they don't think it's going to be very effective. So, everybody's encouraged to get the flu shot which, of course, is a shot. Nobody likes shots but it's relatively painless as far as shots go and it's actually little bits of inactivated viruses. So, what it does is that it can't cause you to be sick or typically doesn’t but it makes your immune system build up a defense against those specific kinds of viruses.
Bill: So, that's a good point you just made there. Stay away from the nasal spray this year and the flu shot can't make you sick. Can you say that again? Because that is one of my questions and I'm sure you see these all the time. So, I just want to be clear. If you can just explain it one more time. Flu shot isn't going to make you sick because that's one of the questions I'm sure you get all the time. And that's what I hear, “I don't want to get the shot because it makes me sick.”
Dr. Hartung: Absolutely. I have people who told me that and I don't disbelieve them. Of course, I trust our patients and they tell me, “No, it made me sick. I don't want it again.” It really shouldn't. I mean, it's one of the sayings I've learned in medicine "never say never". Weird things happen but whether they just picked up a virus for being in the doctor's office or something of that nature, but it really shouldn't make you sick. However, I do tell people, “Well, listen, if you'd ever have actual flu, the fevers, the chills, the headaches, the sudden onset, the feeling that everybody tells that “I got hit by a MAC truck.” That is far worse than any symptoms that a flu shot could give you. Really, the most common, honestly, is soreness at the site where they have the shot. That's probably the common thing, maybe some redness. Nobody likes shots, but, really, it's relatively mild. Quick and easy.
Bill: So, you mentioned this earlier, at 6 months of age, parents should start getting their children vaccinated?
Dr. Hartung: Yes. They have the typical child immunizations that start at 2 months and they come at 2-4-6-12, but at 6 months and 1 week, the recommendation has been to add in the flu shot and most often, they’re going to have the appropriate kind of flu shot for both kids and for adults and also then for those aged 65 and above. They actually have their own special shot, the higher dose. It’s a little bit stronger, if you will, from that population because we really want to protect them so it’s a little bit, a little bit even stronger vaccine.
Bill: Well, that makes total sense. I totally can understand that. So, every year, we always say, “Every year, get a flu shot.” For somebody that is thinking, “I got a flu shot last year. It's still in my system. I know there are different strains. I don't need this.” Can you tell us why it's really important that every year you get a flu shot?
Dr. Hartung: Sure, because it goes back to that kind of educated guess that scientists make of wondering what flu is going to be present. Flus shift and that's why we see these outbreaks every year. The strains, if you will, change and how they affect the body and if the body simply will get an immunization to one strain, that will shift and the next year, that flu shot will probably not be as effective. Every now and then, we get this kind of super flu things. Of course, the swine flu from a few years ago. That is actually is still in the vaccines today to make sure that we don't have a huge outbreak of that. So, a yearly flu shot is super important because it changes every year.
Bill: So, there you go. Make sure you go out and get your flu shot today so you're protected. Dr. Hartung, why should someone choose Schneck for their vaccination needs?
Dr. Hartung: Sure. We have a lot of locations. We are proud to say that Jackson Park here at Seymour, we have partnered with Schneck, and we have a few much broader primary care options in town now. Our Jackson Park office in Seymour; our Brownstown office. There are a lot of places to go and get your flu shots. Of course, at the hospital itself, but we have plenty of vaccines available and we’d be very, very happy to take care of the community.
Bill: Dr. Hartung, thank you again for your time today. We appreciate it. For more information, you can visit www.schneckmed.org. Just go visit the website at www.schneckmed.org. This is Schneck Med Radio. I'm Bill Klaproth. Thanks for listening.