Mark your calendars: November is flu shot season
By Clarissa Guyton
Lance Writer
November 19, 2008
 The month of November signals that it might be time for you to add a new, and possibly very dreaded item to your ‘to do’ list: the flu shot.
Many students may not even be familiar with what a flu shot is—beyond a needle, of course. In fact, the vaccine contains three killed influenza (flu) viruses that are injected, usually into your arm. The three virus strains used are A (H3N2), A (H1N1), and B virus, all of which are representative of the strains recommended for that year.
Viruses for the flu shot are then grown in eggs; hence the frequent precaution to those who are allergic to eggs.
Common side effects of the flu shot are soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given, low-grade fevers, and aches or pains.
Among other individuals, children aged six months to 19, pregnant women, people 50 years of age and older and people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions are strongly recommended to get the flu shot.
Conveniently, the University of Windsor’s Student Health Services will be having a Flu Shot Clinic on Wednesday, Nov. 12 in Winclare A, Vanier Hall from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and another one on Thursday, Nov. 27 in the CAW Centre from 12 until 8 p.m.
Among elderly people living outside chronic-care facilities (such as nursing homes) and those people with long-term (chronic) medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), the flu shot is 30 to 70 per cent effective in preventing hospitalization for pneumonia and influenza.
There are a few things to keep in mind should you choose to get the shot. First, if you aren’t feeling well the day you plan to get your flu shot, talk to the doctor or nurse about getting your shot after you are feeling better.
You can usually get a flu shot even if you have a respiratory sickness without fever or if you have just a mild sickness.
The health unit recommends that you talk with a doctor before getting a flu shot if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to eggs or to a previous flu shot or if you have a history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).
GBS is an illness characterized by fever, nerve damage, and muscle weakness. Studies suggest that one person out of 1 million vaccinated persons may be at risk of GBS associated with the vaccine, but this is very rare.
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