No BULL...Get Your FLU SHOT!

Yes, it's only September, but we've been seeing cases of the flu all month! Today the University of Texas kicked off our 2016 flu shot campaign, and happily, students were lined up and ready to go. Our staff does a wonderful job of efficiently providing vaccines for students, faculty and staff- Hook 'em! The vaccines are widely available now, in your doctor's office, pharmacies and even grocery stores.

WHO: EVERYONE that is 6 months old & up (*with rare exceptions*)

WHY: THOUSANDS of people die from flu every year, here in the United States- between 3000-49,000 deaths. Hundreds of thousands are hospitalized, and many millions seek care with their own doctors, costing our healthcare system over $10 BILLION each year for direct flu-related costs. Closer to home- how many days can YOU (or your kids) afford to stay home sick or try to function with miserable flu symptoms?

The flu vaccine is not perfect, since new strains emerge each year and scientists are not yet clairvoyant. If you get the vaccine, you MIGHT still get the flu- but your illness should be much milder than if you were not vaccinated. Flu vaccines do NOT cause the flu- repeat- DO NOT CAUSE THE FLU. Note that influenza is not the same as the many viruses that cause "cold" symptoms, so the flu vaccine does not protect you against getting EVERY sore throat, runny nose, cough, sneeze and fever.

What's new for the 2016-2017 flu season?

• ONLY INJECTABLE VACCINES this year (NO nasal spray)
•  the nasal spray one with attenuated live virus will not be offered because last season's data has shown it to be significantly less effective than the injectable ones
• RECOMMENDATIONS for the 1.3% of children and 0.2% of adults with EGG ALLERGIES
• If your egg allergy means you get only hives after eating eggs, you may receive either type of vaccine available
• If you have a more severe egg allergy beyond hives (lip swelling, trouble breathing, passing out or vomiting), you may still receive either vaccine but it should be done in a medical setting with providers trained and able to manage severe allergic reactions.

BOTTOM LINE: Flu season is here once again. I got my flu vaccine last week- have you had yours?

2015 Flu Vaccine "Cattle Call"

BEVO says, "Healthy Horns get Flu Shots!"

Attention Longhorns, Aggies, and everyone else, flu season is upon us, so it's time for your annual flu vaccine.  UT students- we have completed our large flu vaccine clinics, but now you may schedule an appointment at UHS to receive your shot. 

Who should get the flu vaccine?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) continues to recommend annual flu vaccines for everyone over the age of six months.

What is different this year?
Last year, the vaccine was not a great match for the strain that ended up dominating the scene (H3N2). This year's vaccine includes two type A strains, both last year's H3N2 and the H1N1 that was so intense from 2009, as well as two less well- known type B strains.

But I hate needles...no problem, ask for the vaccine that is delivered via a nasal spray! The only caveat here is that this is a live vaccine, so there are some restrictions: you must be age 2-49 years, not pregnant, have no major problems with immunity (such as having AIDS or cancer), not take aspirin daily, and not have asthma.

New this year: "Jet-Injectors" which use a "high-pressure, narrow stream of fluid" to directly penetrate the skin- no needle involved at all! The only vaccine to be delivered this way for 2015-2016 will include three (rather than four) strains of flu, the type A strains H3N3 and H1N1, along with one B strain, and recipients must be ages 18-64 years old.

What is FLU? Influenza is not a simple cold, nor is it a twenty four hour stomach virus. The flu causes fever, chills, cough, runny/stuffy nose, muscle aches, headaches, fatigue, and sometimes involves vomiting and diarrhea (more often in kids). Colds and allergies tend to bother you from the neck up- stuffy, sore throat, headache- but don't knock you down for the count, and coughs are generally less bothersome.

How is the FLU spread? This virus is spread from infected people when the cough, sneeze or talk, via tiny respiratory droplets, and the scary part is that you are contagious a full day BEFORE you develop symptoms (as well as for about a week after you feel sick.)

How can you prevent the FLU? Wash hands FREQUENTLY and get vaccinated. Get vaccinated. Get vaccinated! 

Who should NOT get vaccinated? Those with bad reactions to vaccine in the past; infants younger than 6 months; and those people with a history of an uncommon disease called Guillain-Barre. If you are sick with a fever, wait till this illness is over before getting the vaccine.

BOTTOM LINE:  Grab a friend, family member or co-worker and make time to get your FLU VACCINE!

Resolutions for BETTER HEALTH in 2014

Happy New Year! Many people start each year with resolutions surrounding their health, so I'd like to  jump in and suggest that you put one EASY resolution at the very top of your list. This resolution should take up well less than an hour of your life, yet can make a tremendous difference in your health for 2014...so here it is: GET YOUR ANNUAL FLU VACCINE!

If you have already received yours, pat yourself on the back & remember to encourage your friends and family to get theirs. I will confess that certain members of my family kept putting off their shots for a variety of reasons (including one trip to two pharmacies who were temporarily out of the vaccine last month), but we are 100% vaccinated now. My major message is two-fold: one, it is NOT TOO LATE in the season to get a flu shot, and two, just glance at the CDC's map above to see how widespread the flu has become this year! Last year, influenza caused over 380,000 people to be hospitalized. This flu season, we are seeing a resurgence of the pH1N1 strain (originally known as swine flu, though the "p" is for "pandemic", not pig). This particular strain is the type of flu that was so severe in 2009, but happily, all of the current flu vaccines DO include this strain. Note that pH1N1 can produce very severe illness, especially in young and middle-aged adults.

More questions about the flu or the flu vaccine? Check out "I Got Mine" or the CDC's "Flu Basics".

BOTTOM LINE: Start 2014 off right & GET YOUR FLU VACCINE (if you haven't yet this season).

I Got Mine! Did You Get Yours?

As we zip into the holiday season, give yourself the GIFT of a flu vaccine NOW so you are not struck down with this illness at the busiest time of year! Flu shots have been available for a few weeks and seem to be available everywhere.  Clinics, schools, grocery stores, pharmacies and many employers are all offering flu shots these days. Add a flu shot to your grocery list- I'll bet the pharmacy there is stocked and you won't even have to add an extra stop on your weekly errands.

Who should get the flu vaccine?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) recommends annual flu vaccines for everyone over the age of six months.

What is different this year?
This year, we have quadrivalent vaccines (that include protection against four strains- 2 influenza type  A strains, and 2 influenza type B strains) in addition to the usual trivalent vaccines. Pick one or the other, you don't need both. If you have egg allergies, make sure to ask for the trivalent vaccine that is egg-free.

But I hate needles...no problem, just ask for the vaccine that is delivered via a nasal spray! The only caveat here is that this is a live vaccine, so there are some restrictions: you must be age 2-49 years, not pregnant, have no major problems with immunity (such as having AIDS or cancer), not take aspirin daily, and not have asthma.

Hate needles and have asthma? There is also a trivalent shot that has a tiny needle which is injected just below your skin, rather than into the muscle.


What is FLU? Influenza is not a simple cold, nor is it a twenty four hour stomach virus. The flu causes fever, chills, cough, runny/stuffy nose, muscle aches, headaches, fatigue, and sometimes involves vomiting and diarrhea (more often in kids). Colds and allergies tend to bother you from the neck up- stuffy, sore throat, headache- but don't knock you down for the count, and coughs are generally less bothersome.

How is the FLU spread? This virus is spread from infected people when the cough, sneeze or talk, via tiny respiratory droplets, and the scary part is that you are contagious a full day BEFORE you develop symptoms (as well as for about a week after you feel sick.)

How can you prevent the FLU? Get vaccinated. Get vaccinated. Get vaccinated! 

Who should NOT get vaccinated? Those with bad reactions to vaccine in the past; infants younger than 6 months; and those people with a history of an uncommon disease called Guillain-Barre. If you are sick with a fever, wait till this illness is over before getting the vaccine.

BOTTOM LINE:  FLU SEASON has begun again- get vaccinated!

Flu Vaccine- It's Not Too Late!

Okay, it's January, and now EVERYONE you know is getting the flu! Is it too late for you to get vaccinated? ABSOLUTELY NOT! The truth is that now that we're all scared, it's tough to find somewhere that has the flu vaccine in stock! Call your doctor or your pharmacy and find out how many they have left, then jump in your car and head over.

This year is another one of those "really bad" flu years. Yes, if you are vaccinated today, you have to wait a couple weeks for your shot to protect you. BUT...the flu season is just catching its stride, so all you have to lose is a temporarily sore shoulder.

This year's flu seems to be bringing with it the added bonus of nausea and vomiting, as if muscles that feel like a Mack truck hit you were not enough. The flu is NOT just a stuffy or runny nose and cough- that's a cold. The flu is OMG, I can NOT get out of bed and function, because my head is splitting, my muscles are screaming, and yes, this year's bonus is the vomiting and diarrhea. Believe me, a sore arm for a few days is a happy trade for the flu.

Who should be vaccinated? Hello, it's EVERYONE. The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends that everyone over the age of 6 MONTHS get a flu vaccine each year.

Wash hands, wash hands, and oh yes, wash your hands...for 20 full seconds! When you dash them under the water or take 5 seconds to apply hand sanitizer, you are nicely moving your germs around, so spend the extra 15 seconds and scrub a bit to be more effective.

BOTTOM LINE: FLU SEASON is in FULL SWING- Strike back by getting your FLU VACCINE and WASHING YOUR HANDS...for a full 20 seconds!

For more info, check out the current stats on this year's flu at the CDC at: 
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2012-2013.htm

Flu Season 2012- Ready or Not!

While we are rushing around in December, take a moment to think about whether or not your family has received the flu vaccine this year. The CDC reports show that unfortunately, we are jumping into the season early this year, especially in TEXAS, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. In fact, this is the earliest in the flu season to reach this level in almost a decade (since 2003-2004). The good news is that the viruses identified with testing DO largely match the strains that are included in this year's vaccine. More good news is that they are susceptible to our antiviral medications, although I am not a huge fan of these drugs in otherwise healthy individuals.
Both types of influenza- A and B- are being documented, with the usual ratio of nearly 3:1 from A:B.

What is FLU? Influenza is not a simple cold, nor is it a twenty four hour stomach virus. The flu causes fever, chills, cough, runny/stuffy nose, muscle aches, headaches, fatigue, and sometimes involves vomiting and diarrhea (more often in kids). Colds and allergies tend to bother you from the neck up- stuffy, sore throat, headache- but don't knock you down for the count, and coughs are generally less bothersome.

How is the FLU spread? This virus is spread from infected people when the cough, sneeze or talk, via tiny respiratory droplets, and the scary part is that you are contagious a full day BEFORE you develop symptoms (as well as for about a week after you feel sick.)

How can you prevent the FLU? Get vaccinated. Get vaccinated. Get vaccinated. It's not too late for this year- get vaccinated. The flu vaccine is indicated for EVERYONE over the age of 6 months, EVERY YEAR.

Who should NOT get vaccinated? Those with severe chicken egg allergies; bad reactions to vaccine in the past; younger than 6 months; history of an uncommon disease called Guillain-Barre. If you are sick with a fever, wait till this illness is over before getting the vaccine.

BOTTOM LINE: It's FLU SEASON again- get vaccinated!

FLU News: 2011 Season

Flu season can be a scary, challenging time for all of us, especially the last two years, thanks to H1N1 (formerly known as the Swine Flu). The BAD news this year is that we're already seeing some cases of the flu, but the GOOD news is that we already have this year's flu vaccine available, and it will provide immunity to several strains of the flu, including the 2009 H1N1. In fact, each year the flu vaccine has three parts, including an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus, and an influenza B virus.

There are two types of vaccines offered- a live vaccine, which is a weakened version of the virus (this is the nasal spray vaccine) and a "killed" vaccine, the traditional injection. I often hear patients say they "got the flu" from the vaccine, but that is impossible from the injection because those viral particles are NOT ALIVE- they can NOT cause disease. It takes about two weeks for your body's immunity to kick in after the shot, so plan ahead, especially if you are traveling.

In the 2010-2011 flu season, which peaked in early February 2011, was less severe than the pandemic flu season the year before, but still had very significant impact on our population. While most people infected have a miserable several days to a week of symptoms, there were over 300 deaths confirmed to be from influenza, including over 100 pediatric deaths (average age around 6 years.) This is not a disease to be ignored.

WHO should get the flu vaccine this year? The CDC recommends that "EVERYONE 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as the 2011-2012 vaccines are available." And that is NOW! Don't worry about the effects wearing off before the end of flu season, by the way, because the effects last throughout the whole season.

When is flu season? Though typically we say October to January, it really starts with September and most likely extend beyond February this year. Let's be proactive and line up early to receive a vaccination, and then follow up with consistent hand-washing and STAYING HOME if we get sick! I LOVE that all our grocery stores, and many other public places now have the anti-bacterial cleansers positioned right as you enter their store- USE IT!

BOTTOM LINE: Don't wait- head to your doctor's office or your pharmacy for a FLU VACCINE now!

Are you SAD?

While everyone around you is humming Christmas songs, pulling out their Hannukah decorations or making ski vacation plans , are you left feeling sad? Perhaps it's not the holiday blues, but SAD- Seasonal Affective Disorder. This depressive disorder was formally named only a few decades ago, in the 1980's. It affects over half a million people each winter, including some symtoms in up to a third of patients seeing their primary care physicians during this season.

Who gets seasonal affective disorder? It's most common in women (3:1 over males) and young adults 20-30 years old, but it is seen in across the board. January and February are the most common months that SAD is diagnosed.

What are the complaints? Often fatigue, weight gain and recurrent illness are the primary issues, rather than simply "sadness".The simples range from a mild case of "winter blues" to serious depression.

What is the cause? There are different theories, most of which are linked to hours of sunlight. There is disruption in our circadian rhythms as well as decreased seratonin secretion during winter months, and of course, less Sunshine vitamin (Vitamin D).

Prevention? Light therapy (using full spectrum light bulbs in your home and work) or consciously spending more time outside in the sunlight can help prevent S.A.D. Of course, moving to a more southern location can help, especially if you are far north, but that is not typically feasible for most people.

Treatment? Light therapy, anti-depressant medications (Buproprion is the only one FDA indicated, but SSRI's are also used), and Vitamin D replacement (if low) all have shown effectiveness in improving symptoms.

BOTTOM LINE: If you recognize a pattern of feeling sluggish every winter and perking up in the spring and summer, talk to your doctor and see if together you can change "S.A.D." to glad this year!

PS. Happy December 1st! Change those air filters!!

Flu Vaccine- It's Time AGAIN!

Last year's flu season was a scary, challenging time for all of us, thanks to H1N1 (formerly known as the Swine Flu). The BAD news this year is that we're already seeing some cases of the flu, but the GOOD news is that we already have this year's flu vaccine available, and it will provide immunity to several strains of the flu, including the 2009 H1N1.

When is flu season? Though typically we say October to January, we'll need to start with September and most likely extend beyond February this year. Let's be proactive and line up early to receive a vaccination, and then follow up with consistent hand-washing and STAYING HOME if we get sick! I LOVE that all our grocery stores, and many other public places now have the anti-bacterial cleansers positioned right as you enter their store- USE IT!

WHO should get the flu vaccine this year? The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has recommended that EVERYONE over the age of 6 months receive it this year, so we can avoid the near pandemic we faced last year. It is especially important for people at high risk of serious complications: pregnant women, kids <5 years old, adults > 50 years old, anyone with chronic illness (asthma, diabetes, cancers, etc.) and health care workers. I would add TEACHERS to that list, as well.

BOTTOM LINE: Don't wait- head to your doctor's office or your pharmacy for a FLU VACCINE now!
(PS If you are a West Lake Family Practice patient, we are expecting our vaccine shipment to arrive next week.)