Emergency MDs urge Americans to get flu shot ASAP

By Anne Harding

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The flu is likely to hit hard this year, emergency department doctors warn, and they're urging people to get immunized as soon as possible.

The number of flu cases in Australia and New Zealand during their flu season -- the best predictor of what people in the Northern Hemisphere can expect -- was more than triple the average for the past 5 years, notes Dr. Linda Lawrence, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

The good news, Lawrence adds, is that most of these cases were due to influenza A (H1), the strain that this year's vaccine was formulated to fight. "It looks like our flu vaccine should be a good match for the type of flu we are going to be expecting," she told Reuters Health.

When the flu shot is in short supply, public health experts recommend it to be limited to children between 6 months and 5 years of age, people 50 or older and those with chronic illnesses. Health care professionals and those who come into contact with vulnerable individuals should also get the shot.

But this year plenty of the vaccine is expected to be available, so everybody should try to get immunized, Lawrence said. "It's probably reasonable for most individuals to get the flu shot, because many of us do come in contact with family members and friends who are more vulnerable."

This is particularly true during the holiday season, Lawrence pointed out, when many people will spend time with older relatives as well as young children. Increased travel can also mean a greater likelihood of being exposed to the flu.

While flu season typically doesn't begin until January, Lawrence urged people not to put off getting their shot. "It takes at least a couple weeks for your body to mount an immune system response that will protect you," she explained.

SOURCE: American College of Emergency Physicians, November/December 2007.