Have you received your flu shot? I have.
Last year’s round of vaccinations worked well and kept H1N1 from getting as serious as was predicted. This year the H1N1 vaccine and seasonal flu vaccine are in one needle.
If the reason you have been avoiding getting the shot is because you are afraid of needles or are sensitive to the pain, here’s some news you may be interested in.
According to a recent Canadian survey, up to one in four consumers experienced anxiety when shown the traditional 2.5 cm flu vaccine needle. 1
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| Intanza Vaccine |
This flu season there are vaccination options available that make the shot more comfortable. You may have heard about a new one called INTANZA.
“It is the only seasonal influenza vaccine administered by a microneedle — more than 10 times smaller than traditional needles — which is proven to reduce pain. INTANZA has also shown to be at least as effective in preventing season flu as vaccines given with traditional syringes.”
Some More Facts About Canadians and the Flu:
· There are more than 13,600 hospitalizations attributed to influenza each year, with approximately 3,600 of these among adults aged 20 to 64. 2
· In 2008, less than one-third of Canadians aged 12 and over had a seasonal flu shot in the previous year. 3
· Influenza and pneumonia is the seventh leading cause of death in Canada, with approximately 4,000 to 8,000 Canadians dying each year of pneumonia related to flu, most of them seniors. 4
Here’s a video about Intanza:
1 Ipsos Health. Flu Vaccination Study. December 2008.
2 Schanzer DL, et al. Influenza and Other Resp Viruses. 2008;2:1-8.
3 Statistics Canada. Influenza Immunization 2008. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-221-x/2009001/tblstructure/3sp/3ay/aces3ii-eng.htm. Last accessed October 14, 2010.
4 Health Canada. Its Your Health – Influenza. Oct 2009. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/alt_formats/pacrb-dgapcr/pdf/iyh-vsv/diseases-maladies/flu-grippe-eng.pdf. Last accessed October 14, 2010.
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