Dr. Jennifer White

Flu Vaccination Options Are Available for Everyone

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that an average of 30,000 deaths occur annually as a result of flu and associated complications. Influenza is a serious and potentially deadly disorder.   With last year’s flu outbreak ranking among the worst in recent history, Mayo Clinic experts are offering advice and dispelling many misconceptions about the flu to help people stay healthy.

  • Infectious diseases specialist Teresa Seville, M.D., at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, says, “The vaccine is the best defense against flu and serious flu-related conditions, and because it’s difficult to predict how and when the flu will strike, I recommend getting it as early as you can."
  • One of the most common myths about the flu is that the vaccine will cause the flu. Jennifer White, M.D., family medicine physician at Mayo Clinic Health System in Springfield, Minn., says, “Although many people believe this, it is a myth. Injectable flu vaccines are composed of portions of inactivated flu proteins, and it’s impossible for them to cause the flu. Nasal spray vaccines have live, weakened flu organisms that can’t multiply or cause disease.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55K_w9zrd94
  • Vandana Bhide, M.D., internal medicine specialist at Mayo Clinic in Florida, adds, “Though many people who get the flu will have fever, muscle aches and need to stay home from work or school for a few days, certain people can develop serious complications, which could include pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections and other conditions. The vaccine can help avoid these issues.”
Read news release for more information and tips for avoiding illness. Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Bhide are available in the downloads.

By Dana Sparks • October 17, 2013
Influenza is Spreading Across the United States

Journalists: Mayo experts are available for interviews. Contact  507-284-5005 or email:newsbureau@mayo.edu According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) most of the country is now experiencing high levels of influenza-like-illness.  Mayo Clinic specialists are offering advice and dispelling some misconceptions about the influenza to help people stay healthy. Here are some tips for avoiding illness:

  • Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently with water and soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer. This is particularly important before leaving the bathroom, eating or touching your face. A good rule of thumb is to wash your hands for 20 seconds, about as long as it takes to sing "Happy Birthday." Use a paper towel to shut off the faucet and open the door while in a public restroom. This will keep you from recontaminating your hands.
  • Cover your cough with the crook of your elbow.
  • Avoid others who are sick, and stay home from work or school if you are ill. Dr. Bhide recommends visiting the doctor if you are part of the high-risk group for flu or around someone who is at risk.
  • Don't smoke.
  • Keep your vaccines up to date. Aside from the seasonal flu shot, the most important vaccines include measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and the relatively new Tdap, for tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (whooping cough).

By Dana Sparks • January 15, 2014