The flu, or influenza, is a contagious respiratory illness that causes fever, cough and sore throat. It can lead to serious illness and even death in some cases. Each year’s vaccine has antigens or proteins that protect against three (trivalent) or four (quadrivalent) different influenza viruses, which are chosen based on international surveillance and scientists’ estimations about which viruses will circulate in the northern hemisphere.

Certain people are more likely to develop complications from the flu than others.

What is influenza?

Influenza is an infection of the respiratory tract caused by influenza viruses.

Influenza viruses are a group of viruses that can infect people and many other animals, including birds, pigs and horses.

These viruses can invade your nose or throat cells and start to multiply. You may also breathe them into your lungs, where they will multiply further. These new infected cells release large amounts of virus particles into the air you breathe out thereby infecting others. The new infection then spreads to their upper respiratory tract (nose and throat) leading to symptoms such as fever, chills and headache. 

Sometimes these symptoms can be severe enough to require hospitalization!

Why should I get an annual flu shot?

Because the flu shot is the best way to prevent influenza before you have contracted it.

It’s also safe and effective, and it can protect you from three or four different types of flu viruses (depending on which vaccine you get).

If you are at high risk for severe illness during the flu season, your doctor may recommend that you get vaccinated. Flu shots are available for free to some people, including those who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications from the flu.

Are there different kinds of the flu?

The influenza virus is classified into three types: A, B, and C. Influenza A is the most common type in the United States, but it can cause milder symptoms than influenza B.

Influenza B typically occurs during late fall through early spring (December to April).

It usually causes more severe illness than influenza A because the viruses that cause it are more likely to mutate and change from year to year. This means that vaccine protection provided by an annual flu shot may be less effective during a year when there’s a lot of variation in circulating flu viruses.

What are the common signs and symptoms of flu?

Common signs and symptoms of flu include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Muscle aches and bone pain (myalgia)
• Sore throat (pharyngitis)

Some people may also experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

In severe cases it can cause life threatening lower respiratory tract infection requiring hospitalization or even ICU admission depends of severity of disease progression.

How common is influenza in Malaysia?

Influenza is common in Malaysia. The flu is a highly contagious virus that spreads easily from person to person. In Malaysia, the flu season is from October to March and it usually peaks in December or January.

People can get influenza at any time of year, but it’s especially common during winter months because the cold temperature makes it easier for the virus to spread.

There are two types of seasonal vaccines available: trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines (also known as TIV and QIV). The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends children aged 6 months old or older receive an annual vaccination against influenza.

How is influenza treated?

The most common treatments for influenza are over-the-counter (OTC) remedies. These medicines are available without a prescription and can help relieve the symptoms of your flu or reduce the duration of your illness.

Some people with influenza may need to take prescription medicines, such as antiviral drugs like oseltamivir or zanamivir. Antiviral drugs work by preventing the virus from growing and spreading in your body.

They’re sometimes prescribed for people who have severe illnesses from influenza, but they’re not recommended for everyone who has been infected with the flu.

Should my family get the vaccination as well?

The answer is yes! If you have children, the influenza vaccine is safe for them. It is also available at private clinics and pharmacies.

The vaccine is very accessible, so everyone should get annual vaccination.

Is it really necessary for everyone to get vaccinated?

The Influenza vaccine is given to people who are at high risk of serious complications from influenza. If you have any of the following conditions, you should get vaccinated:

• Chronic heart disease (for example, angina, congestive heart failure and previous myocardial infarction)
• Chronic lung disease (for example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Diabetes mellitus requiring insulin or other drugs or having a blood glucose level greater than 11 mmol/L during the past 7 days.

Is the vaccine safe?

The flu shot is a safe, effective method of preventing the flu. The injected vaccine contains killed viruses that can’t cause the flu, and it doesn’t cause the body to develop immunity to the virus itself.

It’s important to note that even though these types of vaccines are made from killed viruses, they still contain proteins similar to those found in live-attenuated vaccines.

These proteins trigger an immune response against the virus after you receive your vaccination at your doctor’s office or pharmacy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone older than six months get vaccinated each year because it protects against many different strains of influenza. It is also safe to be delivered during pregnancy according to CDC.

Can’t I just buy the vaccine or flu shot from a pharmacy and give myself a jab?

You may be able to get the flu vaccine from a pharmacy, but this is not recommended. The flu shot is different from a nasal spray and it should only be administered by a certified healthcare professional in an environment that has appropriate infection control measures in place.

The flu shot is safe and effective, so there’s no reason to risk your health by injecting yourself without medical supervision.

Influenza is quite common in Malaysia, so it’s important to ensure your family stays vaccinated against it every year.

Influenza is quite common in Malaysia, so it’s important to ensure your family stays vaccinated against it every year.

It is especially indicated for the following population

– COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

– You are aged 65 years and above; or

– You have a medical condition that puts them at risk of serious complications from influenza such as heart disease or asthma; or

– You live in an aged care facility

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a highly contagious virus that can lead to serious illness.

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a respiratory illness caused by infection with influenza viruses. Symptoms include fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat and muscle aches.

In most people with influenza, these symptoms last for a week or two and resolve without treatment. In some cases, however, complications may arise (such as pneumonia) that require hospitalization.

Influenza can be spread from person to person when an infected individual coughs or sneezes and another nearby breathes in the virus-laden droplets of saliva.

The most effective way to prevent infection is by getting vaccinated each year before flu season begins.

The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year.

The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year.

If you are at high risk of serious complications from influenza (e.g., you have or are at risk for chronic medical conditions such as lung, heart, kidney and liver disease; weakened immune system due to medications or cancers such as leukemia); pregnant; live with or care for an infant younger than 6 months old; 65 years and older; if you spend time around someone who is ill with the flu) then it’s recommended that you get vaccinated.

Learn more about who should be vaccinated by reading about the Canadian Immunization Guide on Health Canada’s website: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/immunization-guide-vaccine-preventable-diseases#top

Vaccination helps prevent millions of illnesses and tens of thousands of hospitalizations each year in Malaysia

Vaccination is the best way to prevent the flu. In Malaysia, vaccination can help prevent millions of illnesses and tens of thousands of hospitalizations each year.

Vaccination is the safest and most effective way to prevent the flu. It takes about two weeks after getting vaccinated for protection to develop. The vaccine components change every year in order to target viruses that are most likely to be circulating during that season’s flu season in your country or region; however, not all vaccines provide protection against all strains of influenza virus that circulate during a given season, so it’s possible for you to still get sick with flu even if you got vaccinated.

Everyone should be vaccinated every year from age 6 months onward against influenza to protect themselves and their families from illness and even death

Everyone should be vaccinated every year from age 6 months onward against influenza to protect themselves and their families from illness and even death. Vaccination is free in Malaysia.

• Vaccination can prevent serious illness and even death

People who get the flu are more likely to be admitted to hospital, have complications such as pneumonia or develop a secondary bacterial pneumonia, have complications such as heart attack, stroke or diabetes and die from the flu compared with people who do not get the flu.

Every year thousands of people die because they were not vaccinated enough or at all before they got sick with influenza.

Conclusion

Influenza is a serious disease, and it can be fatal. It’s important that everyone get vaccinated each year to protect themselves and their families against this illness.