Answer from an oncologist: In most cases, yes, says Sunnybrook medical oncologist Dr. Mark Doherty.

“This is actually one of the most common questions I get from my patients,” he said. “And the answer in most cases is yes. A flu shot can help protect you from a severe respiratory illness.”

The flu shot itself won’t make you sick, he said. (More on that here)

“The flu shot is made from killed virus so you won’t get sick from it,” Dr. Doherty said. There is a nasal spray vaccine which contains some live virus, which is not recommend for people with cancer.

It takes the vaccine about two weeks to work, so you could still come down with the flu if you contracted the virus before getting the vaccine. 

For a person with a compromised immune system, like a patient undergoing chemotherapy, the respiratory flu can be very serious, Dr. Doherty said.

“Many patients find themselves hospitalized. The flu can be a life-threatening situation for a person with cancer,” he said.

Practice good hand hygiene (that’s washing your hands with soap and water, or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer), and consider wearing a mask when you are around someone who may have been exposed to a cold or flu, as well as asking others to do so when visiting, particularly during the flu season. It’s also beneficial for your family members and caregivers to have the flu shot, as this can reduce the chance of them passing the virus on to you.

Totally isolating yourself from others because you are afraid of the flu isn’t the answer, Dr. Doherty said. 

“Get your flu shot and practice good hand-washing to help minimize those risks,” he said. “It’s important for you to maintain the connection with your friends and family so that you don’t become too isolated.”

There are some instances when a flu shot is not recommended. Be sure to speak to your doctor or healthcare team about getting the flu vaccine if you are undergoing cancer treatment.

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“While flu season can happen anytime between October and April, it does seem to be starting earlier in Ontario this year,” says Dr. Andy Simor, head, department of microbiology and infectious diseases consultant at Sunnybrook.

With that in mind, here are five things you should know about the 2017-2018 flu season:

1. Australia was hit hard by the flu this year

Each year, experts look to Australia’s flu season (which occurs during their winter, between May and October) to get an idea of what our flu season might be like. While the influenza (flu) vaccine match was good this year in Australia, the country saw a much higher number of cases than usual, resulting in an increased number of hospitalizations and deaths.

“If the experience of southern hemisphere is predictive, we’re in for a more difficult flu season than usual,” says Dr. Simor.

2. There’s more than one flu strain circulating

There are usually several strains of the flu circulating each year. As a result, the flu vaccine is trivalent, which means the shot protects against three different strains. This year, those three strains are influenza A (H1N1), H3N2 (the prevalent strain that was seen in Australia) and B.

The World Health Organization (WHO) determines which strains to include in the flu vaccine every year. With input from experts around the world, the WHO tries to predict which virus will be the most dominant. As a result, the flu shot protects against different strains every year. So, even if you got a flu shot last year, it won’t be effective against the flu strains circulating this year.

3. Getting the flu shot is safe and effective

The flu vaccine is safe and effective, particularly in preventing serious complications that may occur from the flu (such as pneumonia, which can become deadly for some people).

“The flu can cause severe illness, especially in the very young and the elderly. The most effective thing we can do to protect ourselves and others against the flu is to get the vaccine,” says Dr. Simor.

4. You can’t get sick from the flu vaccine

“The flu vaccine is made entirely of killed virus and cannot cause you to get sick,” says Dr. Simor. Studies have found that symptoms occur just as often in people who get a placebo shot versus the real thing. However, you can definitely still get a sore arm!

It’s important to note, though, that it takes two weeks for the flu shot to work. “If you get sick in those first two weeks, it’s because you had already been infected or you weren’t yet fully protected,” says Dr. Simor.

5. Clean your hands to prevent the flu from spreading

While the flu vaccine is safe and effective, it’s not perfect, and it doesn’t provide a 100% guarantee that you’ll avoid getting sick.

This is why it’s so important to take steps to prevent the spread of the flu, like cleaning your hands often. If you do get sick, don’t go to work and try to stay away from crowded places so you don’t pass the flu virus on to someone else.

“If you get the flu, you’ll feel sick for 5-7 days, and you’re contagious for the first four days. It’s important to limit your contact with other people during that time,” says Dr. Simor.

The post Flu season is here! 5 things you should know appeared first on Your Health Matters.

Flu season runs from about November to March in North America, and each year it varies in length and severity. However, we often see a spike in flu cases at this time of year (during or just after the holidays), as people gather together in large numbers.

This year is no exception. The most predominant flu strain circulating now is H3N2, which disproportionately affects the elderly and people with pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes or heart, lung and kidney disease. These people get sicker and are more likely to require medical care and hospitalization — hence the surge of patients into emergency departments and hospitals.

We are seeing a lot more activity this year compared to last year’s flu season, which was relatively mild. This year is still not as severe as the 2014-2015 season, when there was a poor vaccine match for the circulating and predominant H3N2 strain, resulting in more people becoming ill.

It’s important to understand that the flu strain circulating each year can change every flu season. Using data from previous flu seasons, researchers work hard to predict which flu strain will be most prominent during the next flu season, months in advance. This means there may be year-to-year variation in how well the vaccine and circulating flu virus strains match. Still, significant protection against getting the flu is provided even during years where the vaccine isn’t a perfect match.

So far, this year’s vaccine does appear to be a good match. Even though the vaccine only provides 50 to 60 per cent protection, it is still important that you get the flu shot. Not only does it reduce your own risk of getting sick by 50 to 60 per cent, it also reduces the chances that your loved ones will get sick, especially those who are at high risk for severe flu.

Although we are well into this year’s flu season, it is still not too late to get the flu shot. Because the flu strain you’re being protected against is constantly changing, you should get the vaccine every year. I always get my flu shot, as do all the members of my family.

In addition to getting the flu shot, there are other things you can do to prevent getting or spreading the flu. It’s important to clean hands before and after using the washroom or handling food, covering coughs and sneezes with tissue (and disposing of the tissue immediately in the garbage) and then cleaning your hands.

Practice healthy habits to keep the immune system strong, like having a balanced diet and getting enough sleep, and stay home from work, daycare or school when sick. These are all good habits to adopt, and will increase your chances of staying healthy through the flu season.

The post This flu season seems worse than last year’s. Here’s how to protect yourself. appeared first on Your Health Matters.

Here are my tips for pregnant women:

1. You’re protecting yourself and your baby: Whatever stage of pregnancy you’re at, the flu vaccine keeps you and your baby healthy. Pregnant women are at a much higher risk of hospitalization from influenza – four times more likely to land in a hospital ward than a non-pregnant person. When you’re vaccinated, you develop antibodies to protect your body from the virus. In turn, you also pass along these antibodies to your baby, so she will be protected during her most vulnerable months after birth.
2. Don’t delay (it’s free and easy to access): There are so many places to receive the flu vaccination. From local pharmacies, to your doctor’s office, to public health flu clinics, it is free and easily available. Add it to your list of errands.
3. “But I’m really healthy”: Even if you have a healthy diet, exercise, take your vitamins and get lots of rest, changes in your immune, heart and lung functions during pregnancy make you more likely to get seriously ill from the flu.
4. No link between flu vaccine and autism: Some of my patients are determined to have a “natural” pregnancy and feel anxious about being vaccinated. There is no link between vaccines and autism, in fact there have been several scientific studies refuting this claim. Speak with your doctor if this is a concern.
5. Don’t take a chance: Severe illness in a pregnant mother can be dangerous to your fetus, and increases the chance for serious problems such as premature labour and delivery.

What if…you get the flu when you’re pregnant?

If you do find yourself with the telltale symptoms – fever, chills, cough, sore throat, headaches, muscle and body aches and fatigue – call your doctor right away. There are antiviral drugs that can treat the flu and help prevent serious flu complications. These drugs are safe for pregnant women. Your fever can cause problems with your unborn baby, speak to your doctor about reducing your fever with Tylenol.

Every day, I see mothers agonize over decisions related to their pregnancy. Receiving the flu vaccination should not be one of them. It’s a no-brainer: get vaccinated to protect yourself and your baby. And don’t forget the usual steps you should take every year, like cleaning your hands regularly to combat any viruses you may come into contact with.

Stay healthy and enjoy your pregnancy!

The post Should I get the flu shot when I’m pregnant? appeared first on Your Health Matters.

With cold and flu season here, I spoke to Dr. Mary Vearncombe, former Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Sunnybrook, about how to best minimize the spread of germs and stay healthy.

First though, the difference between a cold and the flu: a cold is a viral infection that brings along a stuffy nose, sore throat, cough and general crummy feeling. In healthy people, it doesn’t usually lead to serious health complications.

The flu is an acute respiratory infection that brings along a fever, cough, chills, aches and pains, and can lead to serious complications like pneumonia. For the elderly, pregnant women, chronically ill or young children, influenza can be deadly. It kills around 3,500 people per year in Canada.

Both colds and flus can feel pretty yucky if you catch one. So here are Dr. Vearncombe’s tips for avoiding both this year:

Clean your hands.

Wash with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Both are effective at removing (washing) or killing (hand sanitizer) bacteria and viruses, including respiratory viruses.

Hand sanitizer should contain alcohol at a minimum concentration of 60 per cent to be effective. Many people find alcohol-based hand sanitizer to be a convenient way to clean hands, especially in public places where hand washing sinks with soap and water are not always available. Keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer in your purse, pocket or backpack.

Get the flu shot.

We are all susceptible to influenza virus, even those of us who consider ourselves healthy.

“If we get influenza, it may be relatively mild for us and we think we have ‘just a bit of a cold’,” Dr. Vearncombe said. “But, we are still infectious to others who may be more susceptible to serious influenza virus infections.”

And we all have these vulnerable people in our lives: elderly parents or grandparents; pregnant relatives or friends; infants and young children; friends and relatives with chronic diseases such as heart or lung disease, diabetes or cancer. By getting the flu vaccine as healthy people, we protect ourselves and therefore help to protect our vulnerable friends and loved ones. (And remember, you can’t get the flu from the flu shot. You may get arm tenderness or mild aches afterwards.)

Get your kids the flu shot or nasal vaccine.

Kids should also get the flu shot or nasal vaccine. A recent US study questioned the effectiveness of the nasal version, but data from studies in Canada, Finland and the United Kingdom suggest it’s effective for use in children. View Health Canada information on the nasal flu vaccine here.

Stay home if you are sick.

Many of us have a strong work ethic and want to drag ourselves in to work even when we are feeling ill. Stay home if you have the flu or a bad cold with a fever.

“Respect your colleagues at work: nobody wants your viruses,” Dr. Vearncombe said. “If you go to work, you will compound the problem by making others in your office ill.”

And this doesn’t just mean staying home from work. Protect your vulnerable family, friends and neighbours. If you promised to go visit your elderly grandmother, call and reschedule; your trivial infection may result in life-threatening pneumonia for her. If you’ve got an acute respiratory infection, now is not the time to take the bus to the movie theatre.

Practice healthy habits.

“Keep your immune system healthy: eat properly, exercise, get enough sleep,” Dr. Vearncombe says. “If possible, keep your distance from people with obvious symptoms of respiratory infection, e.g., coughing, sneezing.”

If you are coughing/sneezing, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue (or “sneeze in the sleeve”), discard the tissue in the garbage immediately after use and clean your hands.

“Most of this is what your mom always told you to do,” Dr. Vearncombe says. “And, as always, mom was right!”

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the flu vaccine.

A version of this post appears in the Town Crier newspaper in Toronto, Ontario.
This post has been updated to reflect 2017/2018 flu information

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