Influenza (Flu) | Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about influenza (flu), and the vaccines that protect against it. She addresses common questions and discusses the relative risks and benefits of this disease and the vaccines.   Find out: Why the nickname “flu” can cause confusion How other pathogens take advantage of a person with influenza The role of other animals in causing influenza pandemics When people should get the flu vaccine What people with egg-allergies should know about getting the flu vaccine What people with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) should know about getting the flu vaccine About the four different types of influenza vaccines, plus a new at-home option Why someone’s “flu” isn’t always caused by influenza with a dive into the many other viruses that cause similar symptoms Why people who got the vaccine may still have “the flu” About emergency symptoms to watch for in infants, children and adults What might happen when people seek healthcare for influenza and what treatments are available About the discussions around mercury in influenza vaccines To learn more about influenza and the vaccines, please visit http://bit.ly/vec-flu-vax. Questions? Submit the VEC Vaccine Notes form. For other vaccines, diseases or general questions about vaccines, check out https://vaccine.chop.edu. Subscribe to our Parents PACK newsletter.