Influenza Education Presentation

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InfluenzaEducation Presentation
Prepared by Peel Public Health2013
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Disclaimer

• We are pleased to be able to offer you the use
  of our Influenza PowerPoint presentation for your
  use. Peel Public Health grants permission for the
  use of this Region of Peel intellectual
  property, and requires that the following
  provisions are adhered to when used.
  The presentation shall be displayed solely for
  educational purposes
• The presentation may not be copied or distributed
  to another agency
• The presentation shall not be altered in any way
  without the written consent of the Region of Peel
• Peel Public Health/Region of Peel shall be
  acknowledged as the creator of the presentation
• The presentation will not be used after the
  2013-2014 influenza campaign
• We also request that a person in authority at
  your organization respond to the Region of Peel
  by email or letter, confirming that the Long Term
  Care Facility (LTCF) or Retirement Home (RH)
  accepts the provisions for allowing the use of
  the Regions materials 

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Purpose

• To promote influenza immunization and wellness
  by
• Providing the general public with information
  about influenza and annual influenza immunization
  
• Increasing awareness about the importance of
  protecting yourself and others from influenza by
  receiving the annual influenza vaccine

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What is influenza?

• Influenza
• Is commonly known as the flu
• Is a contagious respiratory infection caused by
  the influenza virus
• Is much worse than a cold
• Can cause healthy people to become very ill
• Can lower the bodys ability to fight off other
  infections
• Can worsen a current medical condition and those
  effects can last up to a year

Transmission electron micrograph of influenza A
virus Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention
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Did you know?

• Influenza virus infects 10 - 20 of the Canadian
  population every year
• Flu infection is highest in kids 5-9 years old,
• Serious illness and death is highest in
• Kids less than 2 years old,
• People more than 65 years old
• People with other medical conditions.
• The flu and its complications send about 20,000
  Canadians to hospital every year
• 2013-2014 NACI statement Public Health Agency
  of Canada

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Did you know?

• As many as 4,000 Canadians (mostly seniors) may
  die from influenza related pneumonia
• The national goal of influenza immunization
  programs is to prevent influenza from causing
  serious illness and death
• The vaccine is free to all Ontario residents
• 2013-2014 NACI statement Public Health Agency of
  Canada

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How is influenza spread?

• An infected person can spread the virus through
  the droplets that are expelled while coughing,
  sneezing or talking
• We can catch the flu if
• We are within 2 meters of a person who is sick
  with influenza and they cough or sneeze
• and/or
• We touch surfaces where these droplets have
  fallen and then touch our eyes, nose, or mouth
  before washing our hands

Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
2013-2014 NACI statement Public Health Agency of
Canada
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What are the symptoms of influenza?

• Sudden high fever
• Sore throat
• Dry cough
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Headache
• Muscle aches all over the body
• Extreme fatigue

NOTE The elderly may not have a fever.
Children may also have earaches, nausea, diarrhea
and vomiting (Ministry of Health and Long Term
Care)
MOHLTC Influenza Self Assessment Tool
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What do people say who have had the flu?

• I was so sick I couldnt lift my head off my
  pillow for a week!
• I have never been so sick in my life!
• If you have had it, trust meyou never want it
  again.Im getting the flu shot every year from
  now on!!

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What is the difference between influenza (the
flu) and a cold?

• The flu is much worse than a cold. Cold symptoms
  and complications are much milder that that of
  the flu.

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Why do I need the influenza vaccine every year?

• Flu viruses are always changing
• Flu continually circulates around the world
• The World Health Organization monitors the
  strains of circulating virus and makes
  recommendations for a new batch of vaccine each
  year to match the circulating strains
• The best time to get your influenza vaccine is
  early, between October and December, before the
  number of influenza cases increases in Canada
  (PHAC)

http//www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/influenza/influenza-faq
-eng.phpg1
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Who should receive annual influenza
immunization?

• Everyone!
• Unless there is a medical reason not to, everyone
  6 months of age or older can benefit from
  receiving the flu shot
• The Canadian National Advisory Committee on
  Immunization (NACI) 2012 recommends annual
  influenza immunization for
• persons at high risk of influenza-related
  complications, those capable of transmitting
  influenza to individuals at high risk of
  complications, and those who provide essential
  community services however, NACI encourages
  annual vaccine for all Canadians.

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Even during pregnancy
http//resources.cpha.ca/immunize.ca/data/1814e.pd
f
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What are the benefits to employees and employers?

• Employees
• Promotes wellness by preventing illness and
  reducing absences from work
• Improves quality of life, morale and leisure time
• Reduces risk of transmitting flu to family,
  friends and co-workers
• Employers
• Reduces short term absenteeism and need for
  temporary employees
• Improves productivity
• Promotes wellness in the workplace
• Boosts corporate image and morale
• Reduces health care costs
• (Journal of the
  Ontario Occupational Health Nurses Association,
  1998)

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What are the side effects of receiving the flu
vaccine?

• Most people have few or no side effects
• Possible side effects include
• Soreness, redness or swelling at the injection
  site
• Mild fever or muscle aches for up to 2 days
• Anaphylactic (severe) reactions are very rare

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What are some of the common myths about the flu?
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Myths about the flu

• I didnt get a flu shot last year and I didnt
  get sick.
• Even though you may have avoided getting the flu
  so far, it does not mean that you will not get
  sick this year. Different strains of the flu
  virus circulate every year.

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Myths about the flu

• Im young and healthy. I dont need a flu shot.
• Even healthy children and young adults can become
  seriously ill with influenza. The flu can leave
  you feeling ill and unable to go to work or
  perform daily activities for up to seven days.
• There is a chance you might infect others who are
  at much greater risk than you of becoming
  seriously ill from influenza.

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Myths about the flu

• Getting a flu shot will give me the flu.
• The vaccine does not contain live virus and
  cannot give you the flu. If you develop influenza
  within 2 weeks of receiving the flu vaccine, it
  is likely that you had already contracted the
  virus and were developing the flu at the time you
  were vaccinated.

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Myths about the flu

• Flu shots arent worth getting because they are
  not very effective."
• On average, the seasonal flu shot is 50-60
  effective in preventing the flu in healthy
  adults.
• Although, some people who get the flu shot may
  still get sick, the flu tends to be milder than
  if they did not get the flu shot.
• Ministry of Health and Long Term Care Influenza

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Flu shots arent worth getting because they are
not very effective (continued)

• The flu shot reduces the risk of serious flu
  complications.
• In Ontario every year, the flu shot eliminates
  approximately 30,000 visits to hospital emergency
  departments. It also prevents approximately 300
  deaths.
• Ministry of Health and Long Term Care Influenza

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Myths about the flu

• I got the flu shot last year so I dont need to
  get it this year
• Immunity does not last for more than one year.
• The viruses that cause the flu change slightly
  each year so the vaccine must also change each
  year to match them

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How can I protect myself and others from getting
the flu?

• Get the flu shot every year
• Cover your nose and mouth with your sleeve or
  elbow when you cough or sneeze
• Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading
  germs to others

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How can I protect myself and others from getting
the flu?

• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly
• Use soap and water or alcohol based hand rub
• After sneezing or wiping your nose
• Before touching your face (nose, mouth, eyes)

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Where can I get my flu vaccine?

• At work
• At your family doctor (obtain a record for work)
• At a local community clinic (bring a record to
  work)
• A participating pharmacy (gt5 years of age)
• Visit the Peel Public community clinics
• http//www.peelregion.ca/flu/clinics/

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How can I find an influenza vaccine clinic?

• Call
• Peel Public Health
• 905-799-7700
• Visit
• Peel Public Health website
• Peelregion.ca/flu

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How can I set up an immunization clinic in my
workplace?

• Visit
• Peel Web Site
• Peelregion.ca/flu/workplace
• OR
• Visit
• MOHLTC Web Site
• Health.gov.on.ca

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Resources Videos

• Share these videos, not the flu
• MOHLTC
• You and the Flu and How the Flu makes you
  sick available at
• Health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/publichealth/f
  lu/immunize.aspx
• CDC Videos
• Cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/media.htm

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Resources

• Immunize Canada
• Immunize.cpha.ca/en/diseases-vaccines/influenza.a
  spx
• CDC Flu Basics
• Cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/index.htm
• CDC E-cards
• T.cdc.gov/ecards/browse.aspx?category175