The Women's Health Book: An Introduction by Random House Australia

Author:Random House Australia [Australia, Random House]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia
Published: 2014-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

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Influenza vaccination

Influenza (flu) is caused by two types of virus in humans (influenza A and B), which have many strains or subtypes. It is spread easily through infected droplets in the air from coughing or sneezing or from contact with the droplets on surfaces. Complications from flu (such as pneumonia) cause many thousands of deaths in Australia every year.

Influenza viruses change very easily, so every year different strains cause the majority of flu. The components of the annual influenza vaccine therefore change every year, depending on what is believed will be the major strains likely to cause disease that year (based, for example, on the northern hemisphere flu season and circulating strains).

This means that people at risk need the influenza vaccine every year. The vaccine is not a live vaccine, but is made from either parts of or inactivated (dead) virus and is currently made in hens’ eggs. People with severe egg allergy should therefore not receive the vaccine, and should discuss this with their doctor.

People at increased risk of complications from flu include:

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