Vaccinations
SHOULD I HAVE A 'FLU SHOT, DOC?
What is influenza?
Influenza is a specific infection caused by the influenza virus. The virus is spread from person to person in mini epidemics during the winter period of most years. In fact, there is quite a narrow window of time when these mini epidemics occur each year. In Sydney, for example, this is usually between late May to early July, with a peak number of cases occurring each year in June. If you get a viral illness outside this period it is almost certainly not influenza, unless you have been travelling in the northern hemisphere during the mid-winter period.
Most people who tell you at the office during other parts of the year that they have "flu", in fact just have the common cold.
Spread from person to person is via the respiratory route, which means coughing and sneezing.
The cardinal feature of influenza is fever, which is usually high and fairly sudden, and often associated with rigors (shivering, and feeling cold). Patients also frequently suffer severe headaches, back pains, and muscle pains. Some patients may also experience respiratory symptoms, such as cough, runny nose, and sore throat. The illness is usually over within five to seven days. In some cases it is complicated by superimposed bacterial infections.
Can it be treated?
There are some medications, like amantadine, rimantadine and zanamivir, which, if taken during the first 24 hours of influenza, minimise the severity of the viral infection. Your doctor will be able to advise you about these. There is usually no benefit in taking antibiotics unless there is a superimposed bacterial infection.
You should always seek medical advice if you have the symptoms of influenza. Your doctor will also be able to advise you about medications that will ease the symptoms of pain and fever. Paracetamol is the mainstay of this treatment, and is quite safe to take if you are on chemotherapy or other anti-cancer treatments.
Can it be prevented?
The chances of getting influenza can be minimised by having the flu vaccine before the period of the influenza epidemic each year. Protection develops within 2 weeks and lasts about a year.
Should I have the flu shot?
I recommend it for all my patients each year, whether or not you are having chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other treatments.
When should I have the flu vaccine?
Ideally, you should have the flu vaccine sometime between the middle of March and the end of May each year. It is safe to have the flu vaccine if you are on chemotherapy. Chemotherapy patients should have a flu vaccine either just before, or just after, one of their chemotherapy treatments, so as to avoid the period when their white blood cells are low.
I had the flu vaccine last year. Do I have to have it again this year?
Yes. The flu virus is a cunning bug, which mutates and changes and adapts each year in an attempt to infect the maximum number of humans, who might have developed some resistance to the strains that were around in previous epidemics. Each year, a new flu vaccine is produced, designed in such a way as to try to predict those changes in the flu virus and provide protection against it. Of course, it is this cunning adaptability of the flu virus that prevents the vaccine from being 100 per cent effective.
Are there any side-effects of the flu vaccine?
Rarely, you may develop some discomfort at the injection site for 24 or 48 hours. Some people develop mild flu like symptoms, such as low-grade fever. Extremely rarely, people get severe allergic reactions (such as hives, asthma, breathlessness or collapsing) rarely. These reactions are probably the result of an allergy to egg protein, which may be present in the vaccine. You should tell your doctor if you have a history of allergy to eggs.. Again extremely rarely, there are unusual neurological side-effects which your doctor will warn you about. These have not been reliably reported since the mid-1970’s when there may have been a particular problem with a batch of vaccine.
The vaccine contains only dead virus. You cannot get flu from the vaccine
How do I get my flu vaccine?
Each year, general practitioners in Australia are provided with the free vaccine for those over 65. Those under 65 will need a prescription from their GP. Make an appointment with your GP to get your flu shot.
What is influenza?
Influenza is a specific infection caused by the influenza virus. The virus is spread from person to person in mini epidemics during the winter period of most years. In fact, there is quite a narrow window of time when these mini epidemics occur each year. In Sydney, for example, this is usually between late May to early July, with a peak number of cases occurring each year in June. If you get a viral illness outside this period it is almost certainly not influenza, unless you have been travelling in the northern hemisphere during the mid-winter period.
Most people who tell you at the office during other parts of the year that they have "flu", in fact just have the common cold.
Spread from person to person is via the respiratory route, which means coughing and sneezing.
The cardinal feature of influenza is fever, which is usually high and fairly sudden, and often associated with rigors (shivering, and feeling cold). Patients also frequently suffer severe headaches, back pains, and muscle pains. Some patients may also experience respiratory symptoms, such as cough, runny nose, and sore throat. The illness is usually over within five to seven days. In some cases it is complicated by superimposed bacterial infections.
Can it be treated?
There are some medications, like amantadine, rimantadine and zanamivir, which, if taken during the first 24 hours of influenza, minimise the severity of the viral infection. Your doctor will be able to advise you about these. There is usually no benefit in taking antibiotics unless there is a superimposed bacterial infection.
You should always seek medical advice if you have the symptoms of influenza. Your doctor will also be able to advise you about medications that will ease the symptoms of pain and fever. Paracetamol is the mainstay of this treatment, and is quite safe to take if you are on chemotherapy or other anti-cancer treatments.
Can it be prevented?
The chances of getting influenza can be minimised by having the flu vaccine before the period of the influenza epidemic each year. Protection develops within 2 weeks and lasts about a year.
Should I have the flu shot?
I recommend it for all my patients each year, whether or not you are having chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other treatments.
When should I have the flu vaccine?
Ideally, you should have the flu vaccine sometime between the middle of March and the end of May each year. It is safe to have the flu vaccine if you are on chemotherapy. Chemotherapy patients should have a flu vaccine either just before, or just after, one of their chemotherapy treatments, so as to avoid the period when their white blood cells are low.
I had the flu vaccine last year. Do I have to have it again this year?
Yes. The flu virus is a cunning bug, which mutates and changes and adapts each year in an attempt to infect the maximum number of humans, who might have developed some resistance to the strains that were around in previous epidemics. Each year, a new flu vaccine is produced, designed in such a way as to try to predict those changes in the flu virus and provide protection against it. Of course, it is this cunning adaptability of the flu virus that prevents the vaccine from being 100 per cent effective.
Are there any side-effects of the flu vaccine?
Rarely, you may develop some discomfort at the injection site for 24 or 48 hours. Some people develop mild flu like symptoms, such as low-grade fever. Extremely rarely, people get severe allergic reactions (such as hives, asthma, breathlessness or collapsing) rarely. These reactions are probably the result of an allergy to egg protein, which may be present in the vaccine. You should tell your doctor if you have a history of allergy to eggs.. Again extremely rarely, there are unusual neurological side-effects which your doctor will warn you about. These have not been reliably reported since the mid-1970’s when there may have been a particular problem with a batch of vaccine.
The vaccine contains only dead virus. You cannot get flu from the vaccine
How do I get my flu vaccine?
Each year, general practitioners in Australia are provided with the free vaccine for those over 65. Those under 65 will need a prescription from their GP. Make an appointment with your GP to get your flu shot.
Can I get vaccinations while I'm having chemotherapy?
Patients who are immunocompromised (from either illness or medical treatment) should generally NOT be given live viral vaccines. These include MMR, MMRV, varicella, zoster, polio or rotavirus vaccines. They can be given three months after the completion of therapy.
Non-live vaccines such as Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Pneumococcal and Influenza are OK to have during chemotherapy.
For further information, please refer to the Immunise Australia website.
Patients who are immunocompromised (from either illness or medical treatment) should generally NOT be given live viral vaccines. These include MMR, MMRV, varicella, zoster, polio or rotavirus vaccines. They can be given three months after the completion of therapy.
Non-live vaccines such as Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Pneumococcal and Influenza are OK to have during chemotherapy.
For further information, please refer to the Immunise Australia website.