Achoo!

Fever, headache, congestion, and cough ....

If you haven't fallen prey to at least one of these lurking predators this winter, consider yourself lucky! You're odds of NOT catching a respiratory type illness this season were probably worse than winning Oklahoma's current lottery of $270 Million ( I pass that bill board daily in my commute, someday I'm gonna win, but I suppose that entails actually buying a ticket, ha!).

We experienced a really horrible winter of viral illnesses, everything from the flu to nasty bouts of gastrointestinal bugs. SO in response to all 3,000 of you that I vaccinated this fall for influenza, let me tell you a little bit about why you might have still fallen prey to a flu virus.

#1 - Did you really have the flu? Many viruses mimic symptoms of influenza. We had some nasty sinus infections going around as well that can easily develop into bronchitis. Not unless your doctor performed a "flu swab" with an actual lab culture, can you say you had the flu. Even if you're doctor said he was "treating you for the flu" (another pet peeve of mine), you did not actually have THE FLU. Cold vs. Flu

#2 - This year the CDC identified 250 strains of influenza. The flu vaccine contains only three strains of influenza virus, one from each of the main categories of influenza: Type A (H1N1), Type A (H3N2), and Type B. The viruses are selected from the previous years most prevalent or serious strains. Each year strains mutate into new resistant strains. Selecting the appropriate strains for next years vaccine is somewhat of a guessing game. The goal is to have the best match between the vaccine and the viruses that will emerge during flu season (December - March). Do you see the complicated nature of the beast here? The "best match" didn't happen this year.

#3 - You had the vaccine. You were confirmed positive for flu with a swab. Yes, that happens. The purpose of the vaccine is to prevent or decrease the severity of the influenza. Even though you felt like you were going to die, you didn't and probably weren't really that close to it either. The vaccine producers assert that a "close match" can often reduce the severity of the illness.

#4 - If you were hoping you could fall back on one of those great antivirals this year, that was a let down for some as well. We are beginning to see more resistance to the antivirals (Thank your Dr for some of this, see #1, treating you for the flu, without confirmation). Don't not take what your doctor prescribes, but just to give you a heads up, it might not be your last minute saviour next year.

As I look into my magic crystal ball for the future, say come about October or November of 2008, I see many of you already touting to me: "the only year I got the flu vaccine, I got the flu!". Let me warn you, don't do it!! Just don't! I'll have to go over the whole thing again. If you dare to thumb your nose at MR. Influenza and take your chances, go for it. I promise not to retort "I told you so", when you become his victim!

Seriously, though, every year 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 people die in the US from influenza. It's worth a shot! I promise!

Want to read more about the 2007-2008 flu vaccine, click here.