Flu Season 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010 at 08:26PM Welcome to October!
As this year continues to speed by we are constantly reminded that we live in a land of change. Hot, humid, sunny days are yielding to cooler, cloudier and dryer days (also shorter days). Based on what I am seeing in the office, cough and cold season is here.
Its time to stop ignoring the drug store ads and get your flu shots.
This year's vaccine is fully loaded! It has both seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccine in it. That's right! You only have to get one injection (unless you are under 9 years old and getting either one the first time). The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends all people over 6 months get the flu shot. But there are some exceptions: allergy to egg, previous allergic reaction to a flu shot or history of Guillain Barre syndrome.
Allergists (like me) see several patients each year that are egg allergic but need flu shots. We have a protocol for evaluating egg and flu hypersensitivity. In most cases you can still get the flu vaccine despite being egg allergic, but an allergist should be supervising the process.
Want to learn more about preparing for flu season?
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