The 2010-2011 Flu Season Is Approaching Fast

For most people catching the flu is just an significant nuisance, but the flu can also be deadly. The time to protect yourself is before you are exposed and before you catch it. The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease. While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine is designed to protect against the three main flu strains research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. This 2010-2011 season the flu vaccine will protect against three different flu viruses: the H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus, and the H1N1 virus that caused so much illness last season. Getting the flu vaccine as soon it becomes available each year is always a good idea, and the protection you get from vaccination will last throughout the entire flu season.

What Expected This Year?

Flu seasons is always unpredictable. Although flu epidemics occur just about every year, the timing, severity, and length of the epidemic often depends on a number of factors, including what influenza viruses are spreading and whether they match the viruses in the vaccine. During the 2009-2010 flu season, the H1N1 influenza virus ("novel H1N1" or "swine flu") was the main problem. This virus caused the first influenza pandemic, a global outbreak of this disease, in more than 40 years. While no one can be certain, it is believed that the 2009 H1N1 viruses may be the main source of infection in the U.S. during the 2010-2011 flu season.

New Strains of the Flu

Flu viruses are constantly mutating and changing so it is not unusual for new flu virus strains to appear each year. For more information about how flu viruses change, visit the CDC website article, “How the Flu Virus Can Change.” While no one is certain, it is likely that 2009 H1N1 viruses and seasonal viruses will be the main cause illness in the U.S. during the 2010-2011 flu season.

Timing: When Will Flu Activity Begin and When Will It Peak?

The timing of flu is very unpredictable and varies from season to season. Flu activity most commonly peaks in the U.S. in January and/or February. However, seasonal flu activity can occur as late as May.

How Effective Is the Flu Vaccine?

The effectiveness (that is how effective ii will be in protecting you and others) of any flu vaccine can vary and often depends on the match between the viruses in the vaccine and flu viruses that are circulating in the community. If these are closely matched, vaccine effectiveness (VE) is high. If they are not closely matched, its effectiveness will be reduced. During well-matched years, clinical trials have shown VE between 70% and 90% among healthy adults. For more information about vaccine effectiveness, visit “How Well Does the Seasonal Flu Vaccine Work?”

To prevent the flu and colds from effecting you, get an immune vitamin-mineral drip to boost your immune system. For more information about Flu Cold Vitamin-Mineral Drip Booster, click here.

For more information from the CDC regarding the2010-2011Flu Season, click here.