I Don

1
I Dont Need a Flu Shot!

• Bill Rogers
• Ball State University

2

• Ryan was having a bad day. On top of waking
  up nauseated, his computer was giving him
  problems. Its probably all these junk emails,
  he complained to his girlfriend Ashley. Look at
  this one. Its from the campus health education
  office. Something about free flu shots. Well
  its too late now I just got done with the
  stomach flu. And besides, shots hurt!

Ashley just rolled her eyes. What a wimp, she
thought.
3
Ashley is a biology major who is also completing
a minor in public health administration. Go get
your flu shot soon, she instructed Ryan. I
dont want to be your personal nurse when you get
the real flu!

• I told you, I just got over the flu. I dont
  need a shot! And besides, its not like I am
  going to die from the flu or anything! responded
  Ryan.
• Ashley retorted, Sit down and let me tell
  you a thing or two Ryan. You are, well, how
  should I put this nicely, woefully uninformed.
  Ryan just sighed.

4

• Look, Ryan. An average of 36,000 people in the
  United States die each year as a result of
  influenza-related complications. So getting the
  flu bug can be deadly!
• Source Centers for Disease Control and
  Prevention

5

• Maybe so, responded Ryan. But the flu only
  kills old and weak people, not a physical
  masterpiece like myself.
• Now I feel nauseous, Ashley whispered under
  her breath. You did NOT have influenza. Ryan, it
  was probably something you ate. You ARE going to
  learn some things about the flu. If nothing
  else, maybe it will help you pass your next
  biology exam. I really doubt you will do well on
  the

test if you dont know the difference between the
stomach flu, the 24-hour flu, and real
influenza!
6
Influenza is caused by an influenza virus.

7
(No Transcript)
8
Stomach Flu or 24-Hour Flu

• The stomach flu, sometimes referred to as the
  24-hour flu, is gastroenteritis, not influenza.
• Gastroenteritis is an irritation of the stomach
  and intestines. It often is caused by bacteria,
  other kinds of viruses, or parasites. Poor
  hygiene or contaminated food or water are likely
  sources.
• While the symptoms of gastroenteritis may
  resemble influenza symptoms, gastroenteritis
  usually only lasts for a day or two.

9

• All right, all right, you made your point,
  groaned Ryan. But if I get the flu, Ill just
  ask the doctor for some penicillin. I still
  dont need a shot!
• Ryan, Ryan, Ryan. Antibiotics dont work
  against a virus! Youll feel so bad you wont
  even think of, well you know, being romantic for
  maybe several weeks! responded Ashley.

Ryan suddenly seemed more interested. Typical
male, Ashley thought to herself.
10
CQ1 Which of the following is true?

1. If Ryans illness was caused by a virus, he
   should begin taking antibiotics.
2. If Ryan has gastroenteritis, he should feel
   better in one or two days.
3. Ryans stomach flu was probably caused by an
   influenza virus.
4. The stomach flu kills around 36,000 people in the
   United States every year.

11

• One more thing! mentioned Ryan. My brother
  Bryan got a flu shot last year and it actually
  gave him the flu!

No, no, no. He didnt get the flu from the flu
vaccine. In rare cases, a person may have a mild
reaction to the shot that resembles the flu, but
even that is definitely not influenza, explained
Ashley.
12
CQ2 A flu shot may actually cause a person to
get sick with influenza.

• A. True
• B. False

13

• Okay, you win, exclaimed Ryan. Ill just
  get the shot over with. But is this like a
  tetanus shot where Ill have to get another one
  in 10 years or can I just get one and be done
  with it?
• Um. Sorry. In fact, Im afraid youll have to
  get one every year, replied Ashley.
• What! Why? Must not be much of a vaccine!
  yelled Ryan.
• Ashley explained, Some viruses change or
  undergo mutations. Influenza viruses mutate
  constantly, so a vaccine that is effective one
  year may be limited the next.

14
Flu viruses may change slightly from year to
year. This type of a mutation is called
antigenic drift. A person may have little
immunity to this mutated form of the virus.
Antigens
15
CQ3 New flu vaccines are made every year
because

1. The current flu vaccines are not safe.
2. Flu viruses mutate.
3. The number of people who get the flu each year is
   increasing, so stronger vaccines are needed.
4. People develop resistance to the previous
   vaccines.
5. Vaccine manufacturers need to make money.

16

• Well, what about this Swine Flu thats been in
  the news? I saw on the news last night that
  health officials fear it is something called a
  pandemic.
• Ashley explained that a pandemic is sometimes
  described as a worldwide epidemic.

17

• Pandemic flu is virulent human flu that causes
  a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious
  illness. Because there is little natural
  immunity, the disease can spread easily from
  person to person.

Source http//www.pandemicflu.gov
18

• I saw a video clip about a flu pandemic in one
  of my classes. Let me see if I can find it on
  the web, said Ashley.
• PanFlu Storybook Beth Hines
• http//www.pandemicflu.gov/storybook/stories/1957
  /hines/index.html

19

• We also learned about the Great Flu Pandemic
  of 1918, often also called the Spanish Flu,
  added Ashley.

Posted in Chicago, IL. 1918
20

• About 30 - 50 million people died worldwide
  during the 1918 flu pandemic including 675,000
  Americans. An unusually high proportion of
  casualties was found among young adults, ages
  20-40.
• Source http1918.pandemicflu.gov

21
Storyteller Gloria GambalePennsylvania

• "My grandfather, Nicola "Nick" Maffeo, and my
  grandmother Constance Maffeo came to America from
  Italy. Constance had a separate room curtained
  off when seven of their children got sick with
  the pandemic flu. When she entered the room she
  wore gauze over her nose and mouth. Of the seven
  children who got sick, four of them died. They
  were Frank, Nick and Rosa, and Dominic. Nick and
  Rosa were twins. One of the three surviving
  children, my aunt May Ann Maffeo, said that she
  knew when one of them was not going to live
  because Constance would sit with the dying child
  in the family's rocking chair and sing to
  him/her. The rocking chair would creak and when
  it stopped, she knew they were gone."

22
CQ4 Form a hypothesis Which of the following
best explains why Constance Maffeo never got the
virus?

1. She may have been one of those people who just
   never seem to get sick.
2. She may have received a flu shot.
3. She may have developed immunity without showing
   symptoms.
4. She wore gauze over her nose and mouth.

23

• During the 1918 flu pandemic, mortality rates
• were high among healthy adults as well as the
• usual high-risk groups. The attack rate and
• mortality was especially high among young
• adults.
• Source http1918.pandemicflu.gov

24
CQ5 During the flu pandemic of 1918

1. Elderly people were especially at risk.
2. The mortality rate was high, second only to the
   Asian flu.
3. Over 600,000 Americans were killed.
4. It was the last major flu pandemic until today.

25

• See Ryan, even a physical masterpiece like
  yourself can be at high risk! teased Ashley.

Ryan responded Yeah? Well, that was over 90
years ago. Something like that wont happen
again!
26

• Lets hope not! Ashley commented. But there
  have been two other flu pandemics since then!
• Asian Flu (1957)
• 2 million deaths worldwide, 70,000 in the
  United States
• Hong Kong Flu (1968)
• 700,000 deaths worldwide, 34,000 in the United
  States
• And new strains of influenza appeared in 1977,
  1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2009!
• Source National Institute of Allergy and
  Infectious Disease (NIH)

27
Source http//www.pandemicflu.gov/
28

• Ryan replied Yeah, I heard about the 2009
  strain, werent they calling it the swine flu for
  awhile? But Im not too worried. Its not like
  Im planning on kissing a pig!
• Lucky for the pig! thought Ashley.

29
Various strains of flu viruses are are found in
different hosts.
30
A common host may become infected with different
strains of flu viruses.
31
Different strains of flu viruses may combine to
create a new strain of flu. This is called
antigenic shift.
32
The new strain may be able to be transmitted
between species as in the case of the swine
flu.
The new strain may also be able to jump from
person to person.
33
CQ6 The Swine Flu

1. Is most common in rural areas.
2. Can be caught by eating undercooked pork.
3. Is especially dangerous since pigs show different
   symptoms than humans.
4. Is a result of genetically different flu viruses
   combining together in pigs.

34

• Okay, lets go. Im ready for my flu shot.
  But it better work against the most current
  strains of the flu! muttered Ryan.

Flu shots can be very effective, but making one
against a new strain takes time, said Ashley.
Huh? You mean you great scientists cant even
keep up with a stupid little virus?
35
Annual Influenza Production Timeline
Surveillance Year-Round
Strain Selection January - March
Manufacturing and Production January - July
Purification and Testing June - October
Filling and Packaging July - December
Shipping August - November Beyond as Needed
Vaccination October and Beyond
Source Sanofi Pasteur, Inc.
36
CQ7 Which of the following is true about a flu
vaccine?

1. The vaccine will protect you from all strains of
   influenza.
2. If a new flu strain is identified, a vaccine can
   be mass-produced very quickly, which will limit
   the severity of an outbreak.
3. It has been demonstrated that flu vaccines have
   caused influenza in some instances.
4. Mutations in flu viruses may reduce a vaccines
   effectiveness.
5. One flu vaccination will last for several flu
   seasons.

37

• Fine, fine, but what am I supposed to do in
  the meantime? asked Ryan.
• Read this, Ashley replied as she handed him a
  pamphlet. And good luck on your next biology
  test.
• After all, with your attitude, youll need
  some luck! Ashley thought.

38

• Get a flu vaccine
• Take everyday preventative measures
• Ask your doctor about antiviral drugs

Free flu resources are available
athttp//www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/index.htm
39
CQ8 All of the following are true about flu
pandemics EXCEPT

1. Pandemics are likely to be due to a new strain of
   the flu.
2. The flu spreads quickly from person to person.
3. People have little natural immunity toward the
   viruses responsible for the pandemic.
4. Pandemics involve large numbers of people in
   localized areas.

40
CQ9 Which of the following situations would be
the most likely to contribute to a new flu
pandemic?

1. A year where very few people are immunized.
2. An environment where flu viruses common to
   different species are present.
3. A year when a single strain of the flu virus
   mutates.
4. A year when people from all over the world gather
   together (such as the Olympics).

41
Ryan

• Not too surprisingly, Ryan, Ashleys former
  boyfriend, did not do well on his biology exam.
  He didnt feel too good the day of the exam,
  which he blamed on the stomach flu.