Fast Flu FAQ
The seasonal flu and novel influenza A H1N1 (swine flu) are highly contagious and potentially serious health conditions.
Here are some quick answers to flu questions:
What are the flu symptoms?
Can I go to work or school?
Should I keep a scheduled Clinic appointment if sick?
How do I know if I am in a high-risk group for the flu?
Who should or should not be vaccinated for the flu?
What are the flu symptoms?
The symptoms of seasonal flu and H1N1 are very similar. They include:
- Sudden high fever
- Chills,
- Dry cough
- Headache
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Muscle and joint pain
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (usually with H1N1 flu)
Not every case of flu, either seasonal flu or H1N1 flu, will necessarily have all of these symptoms.
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Can I go to work or school if I have flu symptoms?
Healthy adults who are not in a high risk group should stay at home to avoid spreading the seasonal and H1N1 flu to others.
Both varieties of the flu are easily spread by close contact with other people.
If you have severe symptoms, seek medical attention at once.
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Should I keep a scheduled Clinic appointment if sick?
Call your health care provider's office to discuss your symptoms before you come to the Clinic.
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How do I know if I am in a high-risk group for the flu?
Different groups are at higher risk for the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu. You may not be in the high risk group for one type of flu, but may be in the high risk group for the other. Here are the people most at risk for severe complications from the seasonal flu and H1N1 flu.
Seasonal flu high risk groups
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who are at the highest risk each year for seasonal flu are:
- Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
- Pregnant women
- People 50 years of age and older
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
- People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
- Health care workers
- Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
- Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
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H1N1 flu high risk groups
The vaccination recommendations for the H1N1 flu virus are somewhat different from those for the seasonal flu.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has further limited the priority of who can receive vaccination to the people who are the highest risk within the high-risk groups.
The current highest risk groups for complications from the flu will receive vaccinations before others. These groups include:
- Pregnant women
- People who live with or care for infants less than 6 months old (examples: parents, siblings, daycare providers)
- Children 6 months through 4 years of age
- Health care and emergency medical services personnel who have direct patient care contact
- Children and adolescents 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic health conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications
After the highest risk groups are vaccinated, the other high-risk groups will be able to be vaccinated. These groups are:
- People ages 5 years through 24 years of age
- People ages 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems
When all the high-risk groups are vaccinated, then everyone in the age groups 25 through 64 years will be vaccinated.
Current studies indicate the risk for infection among persons age 65 or older is less than the risk for younger age groups. Therefore, as vaccine supply and demand for vaccine among younger groups is being met, vaccination will be offered to people over the age of 65.
This priority list may change as the vaccine supply fluctuates. The CDC continues to stress that there will be adequate H1N1 vaccine supplies available for everyone who wants it. It may take longer than previously projected for adequate supplies to become available.
Currently, there is a better supply of the intranasal H1N1 vaccine than the injection form. The intranasal vaccine is equally safe and effective. It is for healthy people who are not pregnant and are between ages 2 and 49 years of age.
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Who should or should not be vaccinated for the flu?
The CDC recommends that most people should be vaccinated against the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu.
Flu vaccinations are your best protection against the flu. The vaccines for seasonal flu and H1N1 flu are different. You need both vaccinations for the best protection.
However, there are a few groups of people who should not be vaccinated for the flu. Here are the CDC recommendations.
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