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2020-2021 Flu Season
Anna Robb discusses the 2020-2021 flu season and what to expect.
Featured Speaker:
Anna Robb, RN,BSN,CEN
Anna Robb, RN, BSN is a Stoughton Hospital registered Nurse and an Infection Prevention Nurse. Transcription:
2020-2021 Flu Season
Melanie Cole: Welcome to Stoughton Health Talk. I'm Melanie Cole, and I invite you to listen as we discuss the 2020, 2021 flu season. Joining me is Anna Robb. She's an Infection Preventionist in Emergency Services at Stoughton Hospital. And I'm so glad to have you back with us again today. How would you characterize this year's flu season? What have you been seeing so far and how does it differ from past seasons?
Anna Robb: The flu season this year is as always, the flu seasons unpredictable, we don't always know when it's going to hit and what strains of the virus we're going to see, but this was even as unique because COVID-19 is also circulating. And so we're really working hard to make sure that we have a good handle on flu and flu vaccination early to try to minimize the risk to patients and our healthcare providers throughout the flu season.
Host: When's the typical peak time for flu season?
Anna Robb: It really varies year from year. We can see peak anytime from early October and into April. Typically it's more likely we see high numbers of flu in November, December, January, and February, but really year to year, it varies significantly.
Host: So, Anna, who should be vaccinated and how do we protect our young ones that are too little to be vaccinated and speak about immunocompromised people as well, who should be vaccinated? And who are we protecting with our vaccinations?
Anna Robb: The CDC recommends that everyone over the age of six months get vaccinated. There are very few exceptions to that. And if people think that they may have an exception to getting the flu vaccination, they should talk to their primary care provider about that. But really everyone over six months of age should get the flu vaccine. And really the flu vaccine does protect the person getting it. But what our real goal is to develop a herd immunity, where there's such a large amount of people that are vaccinated, that the virus is not able to spread. And in turn that protects persons that are immunocompromised and especially those little ones under six months of age, that can't get a vaccination.
Host: Then tell us about this year's flu vaccine. What's changed in the vaccination a few years back, we had the mist, then we didn't, there are specific viruses the vaccine is intended to protect us against, what's going on for this year?
Anna Robb: So, every year there's a prediction made about what strains of flu likely to be circulating in our area. And then the vaccine is developed around that. There's a lot of different types of manufacturers of the flu vaccine. Some have three strains, some have four strains in them. There is also the flu mist vaccination or the injection is not a live virus. So they can't make anyone ill from getting the actual vaccine. The mist is a live virus. So there is a very low chance, but there is a chance of getting the virus from that vaccine. That said, really all of the vaccinations that are on the market have gone through approvals and are safe. And so it's really just important that everyone over six months of age get vaccinated and not really get, if you will caught in the weeds on what type of vaccination to get.
Host: So, where's the best place to get the shot. It seems that there's signs everywhere to get them. Is there a reason we should go to our provider instead of maybe a quick mart or someplace like that for our shots?
Anna Robb: There's really not. And we want everyone to get vaccinated. So whatever is convenient to people is what we would recommend to get vaccinated. It's usually easiest for people to go through their primary care provider, but this year, because of COVID, there's more generalized flu clinics being put on by the individual practices. Also, you can go to a pharmacy and then local to our area for persons that are uninsured or have Medicaid or Badger Care vaccination is free at the Alliant Energy Center. And there is information on that available through Public Health, Madison, Dane County.
Host: Now let's talk about the flu. Is there any treatment for it? If somebody does get the symptoms of the flu, is there any treatment, what should they do?
Anna Robb: So, the best thing to do when people get the flu is to stay home and treat with a lot of rest and fluids. There are some antivirals on the market that have varying efficacy. The general consensus is that if they're started early, they may shorten the course of influenza by a day or so. They're not without side effects, but some people do choose to take an antiviral for influenza, but really the best treatment is rest and lots of fluids. And then obviously avoiding contact with others. Certainly if people develop the more severe cases of the flu, where they're having shortness of breath or uncontrolled fevers, a cough that is bringing up concerning phlegm, those persons should seek emergency medical care.
Host: Tell us some common myths that surround the vaccine and the flu because people do circulate ones. And are these egg based, can you be allergic to them? You already mentioned they weren't live. Tell us some of the common myths that you've heard Anna, and debunk them for us.
Anna Robb: I think one of the ones I hear most often is that people saying I never get the flu and I've never had the flu shot, so I don't need a flu shot. And I think the most important thing that I every year try to reiterate is that the flu vaccine is really not about the person getting the flu vaccine. It's certainly important for people that are immunocompromised or elderly or young children, but for the most part, people that are healthy will do just fine with influenza, may feel really ill for a few days, but we'll do just fine, but there's another subset of the population that won't do okay if they get influenza. And so really what we're trying to do with the flu vaccine is not to protect each individual person. It really is a community effort for us to get the most amount of people vaccinated, to really minimize the amount of influenza circulating and therefore reduce the risk to those vulnerable populations.
Host: Do you have any final thoughts that you'd like to leave listeners with people that have older relatives or children under six months or children of school age? Tell us about the influenza vaccine and what you expect for this year's flu season? Wrap it all up for us.
Anna Robb: I think the most important thing is that really there's a big push from CDC and from our local public health agencies that we want everyone vaccinated by the end of October. So people should seek out a flu vaccine as soon as possible. If you don't make that deadline, it's still important to get it whenever you can. And again, we just are asking everybody to get out and get their flu shot this year, just really as a community approach to influenza and COVID circulating at the same time.
Host: Thank you so much, Anna. It's really important. And as someone who got her flu shot two weeks ago, I can tell you it doesn't hurt. It's a nothing, but it's so important. So get your flu shots and you can visit us on Facebook or head over to our website at stoughtonhealth.com for more information and to get connected with one of our providers. That concludes this episode of Stoughton Health Talk, please remember to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and all the other Stoughton Hospital podcasts. Be sure and share this episode with your friends and family, because we need to protect each other, and getting our flu shots is one of the best ways. This is Melanie Cole. Thanks so much for listening.
2020-2021 Flu Season
Melanie Cole: Welcome to Stoughton Health Talk. I'm Melanie Cole, and I invite you to listen as we discuss the 2020, 2021 flu season. Joining me is Anna Robb. She's an Infection Preventionist in Emergency Services at Stoughton Hospital. And I'm so glad to have you back with us again today. How would you characterize this year's flu season? What have you been seeing so far and how does it differ from past seasons?
Anna Robb: The flu season this year is as always, the flu seasons unpredictable, we don't always know when it's going to hit and what strains of the virus we're going to see, but this was even as unique because COVID-19 is also circulating. And so we're really working hard to make sure that we have a good handle on flu and flu vaccination early to try to minimize the risk to patients and our healthcare providers throughout the flu season.
Host: When's the typical peak time for flu season?
Anna Robb: It really varies year from year. We can see peak anytime from early October and into April. Typically it's more likely we see high numbers of flu in November, December, January, and February, but really year to year, it varies significantly.
Host: So, Anna, who should be vaccinated and how do we protect our young ones that are too little to be vaccinated and speak about immunocompromised people as well, who should be vaccinated? And who are we protecting with our vaccinations?
Anna Robb: The CDC recommends that everyone over the age of six months get vaccinated. There are very few exceptions to that. And if people think that they may have an exception to getting the flu vaccination, they should talk to their primary care provider about that. But really everyone over six months of age should get the flu vaccine. And really the flu vaccine does protect the person getting it. But what our real goal is to develop a herd immunity, where there's such a large amount of people that are vaccinated, that the virus is not able to spread. And in turn that protects persons that are immunocompromised and especially those little ones under six months of age, that can't get a vaccination.
Host: Then tell us about this year's flu vaccine. What's changed in the vaccination a few years back, we had the mist, then we didn't, there are specific viruses the vaccine is intended to protect us against, what's going on for this year?
Anna Robb: So, every year there's a prediction made about what strains of flu likely to be circulating in our area. And then the vaccine is developed around that. There's a lot of different types of manufacturers of the flu vaccine. Some have three strains, some have four strains in them. There is also the flu mist vaccination or the injection is not a live virus. So they can't make anyone ill from getting the actual vaccine. The mist is a live virus. So there is a very low chance, but there is a chance of getting the virus from that vaccine. That said, really all of the vaccinations that are on the market have gone through approvals and are safe. And so it's really just important that everyone over six months of age get vaccinated and not really get, if you will caught in the weeds on what type of vaccination to get.
Host: So, where's the best place to get the shot. It seems that there's signs everywhere to get them. Is there a reason we should go to our provider instead of maybe a quick mart or someplace like that for our shots?
Anna Robb: There's really not. And we want everyone to get vaccinated. So whatever is convenient to people is what we would recommend to get vaccinated. It's usually easiest for people to go through their primary care provider, but this year, because of COVID, there's more generalized flu clinics being put on by the individual practices. Also, you can go to a pharmacy and then local to our area for persons that are uninsured or have Medicaid or Badger Care vaccination is free at the Alliant Energy Center. And there is information on that available through Public Health, Madison, Dane County.
Host: Now let's talk about the flu. Is there any treatment for it? If somebody does get the symptoms of the flu, is there any treatment, what should they do?
Anna Robb: So, the best thing to do when people get the flu is to stay home and treat with a lot of rest and fluids. There are some antivirals on the market that have varying efficacy. The general consensus is that if they're started early, they may shorten the course of influenza by a day or so. They're not without side effects, but some people do choose to take an antiviral for influenza, but really the best treatment is rest and lots of fluids. And then obviously avoiding contact with others. Certainly if people develop the more severe cases of the flu, where they're having shortness of breath or uncontrolled fevers, a cough that is bringing up concerning phlegm, those persons should seek emergency medical care.
Host: Tell us some common myths that surround the vaccine and the flu because people do circulate ones. And are these egg based, can you be allergic to them? You already mentioned they weren't live. Tell us some of the common myths that you've heard Anna, and debunk them for us.
Anna Robb: I think one of the ones I hear most often is that people saying I never get the flu and I've never had the flu shot, so I don't need a flu shot. And I think the most important thing that I every year try to reiterate is that the flu vaccine is really not about the person getting the flu vaccine. It's certainly important for people that are immunocompromised or elderly or young children, but for the most part, people that are healthy will do just fine with influenza, may feel really ill for a few days, but we'll do just fine, but there's another subset of the population that won't do okay if they get influenza. And so really what we're trying to do with the flu vaccine is not to protect each individual person. It really is a community effort for us to get the most amount of people vaccinated, to really minimize the amount of influenza circulating and therefore reduce the risk to those vulnerable populations.
Host: Do you have any final thoughts that you'd like to leave listeners with people that have older relatives or children under six months or children of school age? Tell us about the influenza vaccine and what you expect for this year's flu season? Wrap it all up for us.
Anna Robb: I think the most important thing is that really there's a big push from CDC and from our local public health agencies that we want everyone vaccinated by the end of October. So people should seek out a flu vaccine as soon as possible. If you don't make that deadline, it's still important to get it whenever you can. And again, we just are asking everybody to get out and get their flu shot this year, just really as a community approach to influenza and COVID circulating at the same time.
Host: Thank you so much, Anna. It's really important. And as someone who got her flu shot two weeks ago, I can tell you it doesn't hurt. It's a nothing, but it's so important. So get your flu shots and you can visit us on Facebook or head over to our website at stoughtonhealth.com for more information and to get connected with one of our providers. That concludes this episode of Stoughton Health Talk, please remember to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and all the other Stoughton Hospital podcasts. Be sure and share this episode with your friends and family, because we need to protect each other, and getting our flu shots is one of the best ways. This is Melanie Cole. Thanks so much for listening.