Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Question 1 of 10:

A flu vaccine can’t give you the flu.

True or False

Answer: True

The flu vaccine cannot cause flu illness. The viruses in the vaccine are either killed (flu shot) or weakened (nasal spray vaccine), which means they cannot cause infection.

Question 2 of 10:

The ‘’stomach flu” and influenza is the same thing.

True or False

Answer: False

‘’Stomach flu’’ is a popular term for stomach or intestinal disease, whereas the flu is a respiratory (lung) disease. People who have the flu often feel some or all of these symptoms: fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat and muscle aches. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea also can occur with flu, but are more common in children than adults.

Question 3 of 10:

Getting a flu vaccine in December or later is not too late.

True or False

Answer: True

The recommendation that people get vaccinated as soon as vaccine becomes available and that vaccination continue into December, January and beyond. Influenza activity usually peaks in February most years, but disease can occur as late as May.

Question 4 of 10:

People should be vaccinated against the flu each and every year.

Answer: True

The recommendation is for yearly vaccination for two reasons. First, new flu vaccines are made each year and often updated to fight against the three influenza viruses research suggests will be most common.

Second, immunity declines over time, so a yearly vaccination is required for optimal protection.

Question 5 of 10:

Washing your hands is the best thing you can do to protect against the Flu.

True or False

Answer: False

The recommendation for a flu vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting against the flu. However, preventative actions like covering your cough and washing your hands often are important every- day steps that help stop the spread of germs.

Question 6 of 10:

The flu is typically spread through coughs and/ or sneezes.

True or False

Answer: True.

Flu virus is mainly spread through droplets from cough and sneezes.

Question 7 of 10:

The flu is not a serious illness.

True or False

Answer: False.

Flu is a serious contagious disease that causes illness and related hospitalizations and deaths every year in Canada. Flu seasons can vary in severity. Over a period of 30 years, between 1976 and 2006, estimates of flu-associated deaths range from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people.

Question 8 of 10:

You can spread the flu to others before you have symptoms.

True or False

Answer: True.

Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5-7 after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

Question 9 of 10:

You can spread the flu to others without getting the symptoms yourself.

True or False

Answer: True

Some people don’t show any symptoms or may have minor symptoms.

So the need to receive your influenza vaccine is essential to prevent passing the virus to the high risk people in your surroundings such as the elderly, babies and children 0 to 5 years old, adults and children with chronic diseases, pregnant women, living with children 5 years old and under.

Question 10 of 10:

The flu vaccine is available as a shot or nasal spray

True or False

Answer: True

Flu vaccine is also available as a nasal spray (brand name FluMist).

The nasal spray flu vaccine is an option for ‘’healthy’’ people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant. ‘’Healthy’’ indicates people who do not have an underlying medical condition that predisposes them to influenza complications.

Great! You finished! How did you do? Don’t forget we are still giving flu shots at our office.

For information and questions call COMMUNITY HEALTH at 613-575-2341.