Central California Alliance for Health | Living Healthy | September 2018

HEALTHY 4 FluMist for the 2018–2019 flu season FluMist is a nasal influenza vaccine. This vaccine was not on the list of recommended influenza vaccines for the past two years because it did not protect people against the strains of influenza going around in the United States. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has voted to include FluMist in the list of recommended vaccines for children 2 to 4 years of age and for people 49 years or older for the 2018–2019 flu season. Children 2 to 4 years may need up to two doses of the vaccine. The flu season is during the winter months, but it is best to get the vaccine before the flu begins spreading in your community. Children that need two doses should start as soon as the vaccine is available, because the doses must be given at least four weeks apart. It takes about two weeks after a person gets the vaccine for antibodies to start working in the body and protect them from the flu. Shingrix® is a new vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prevent the shingles virus (herpes zoster) for people 50 and older. What is shingles? Shingles is a virus. It causes a painful blistering skin flare-up that is common among people older than 50. The vaccine Shingrix® is the only shingles vaccine that has been proven to work 90 percent of the time. It is a two-dose vaccine series given as an injection into the muscle in the upper arm. The second shot should be given two to six months after the first shot. It is important for you to get the two-dose series to help prevent shingles. The immune system gets weaker as people age; this means your risk of getting the shingles virus is greater. Shingrix® boosts your body’s immune system to produce more antibodies to fight the shingles virus. The Shingrix® vaccine is covered by Medi-Cal. You can get it from your Primary Care Provider (PCP) or at a pharmacy. You will need a prescription from your PCP when you go to a pharmacy. For more information about the Shingrix® vaccine, talk to your PCP. You can also visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/hcp/ shingrix/recommendations.html . New shingles vaccine FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FLUMIST VACCINE, talk to your Primary Care Provider or visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website at fda.gov/ biologicsbloodvaccines/ vaccines/approvedproducts/ ucm508761.htm .