Vaccination And Protection Against Influenza A (H1N1-2009)

by shopbug on October 22, 2009 · 0 Comments
in Baby

Respiratory infections like Influenza can be serious. Infections can spread from person to person through droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks. Infections can also be spread when a person touches a contaminated surface and then touches his nose or mouth.

Influenza is wide-spreading and a pandemic that’s yet to unrival its full veil, so elementary knowledge for prevention is very much important for all.

Following are just some of the questions our customers had been asking and we would just like to share with all.

Does flu vaccination help in preventing Influenza A (H1N1-2009)?

The current seasonal flu vaccine gives little protection against the new Influenza A (H1N1-2009) strain. There is no vaccine available for this new strain of H1N1 virus yet. Vaccine manufacturers are in the process of producing and testing a vaccine for this new strain.
Should the public get vaccinated against flu?

Flu vaccination helps protect against flu by building up the body’s immunity against the flu virus. Yearly vaccination is recommended for groups at higher risk of complications from flu.
In addition, vaccination is recommended for:
- Health household contacts/caregivers of children aged 5 years and below, and persons at higher risk of complications from flu
- Healthcare workers
However, the flu virus changes rapidly and every year, different strains of the virus become predominant. Hence, vaccines need to be reformulated every year.
What precautions should I take to protect myself, my loved ones and others?

Practice good personal hygiene at all times and be socially responsible
- Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly.
- Cover your mouth and nose with tissue paper when coughing or sneezing.
- Dispose the used tissue paper in the dustbin properly.
- Build up your immunity by leading a health lifestyle.
What should I do if I’m not feeling well and have flu-like symptoms?

It is very important that you take the following actions to avoid spreading your illness further:
- Visit the nearest Pandemic Preparedness Clinic* (PPC), polyclinic or your regular primary care doctor. PPCs and polyclinic doctors have been especially equipped to assess the patients’ condition provide treatment. Wear a surgical mask on your way to the clinic and on your way home.
- Stay at home and rest.
- Minimize physical contact with others (e.g. stay away from common areas of the house and avoid having meals together with others) especially those that are at a higher risk of complications from flu.
- If you need to come into contact with others, wear a surgical mask and try your best to remain at a distance of at least 2 metres away from one another.
- Do not go to work, school, shopping malls, or attend social events.
- Wear a surgical mask if you must go out and avoid crowded places or public transport.
- Call 995 if symptoms worsen or if you experience symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, chest pain or persistent vomiting.
When is an infected person infectious?

An infected person maybe infectious 24 hours before the symptoms appear and throughout the period that he/she is ill.
What should I do if I come into contact with someone with Influenza-like illness?

Monitor your health for seven days from time of contact and watch out for flu-like symptoms. Children should refrain from playing with others as this would put other children at risk.
If you live in the same household as the ill person, practice the following:
- Observe good personal hygiene.
- Clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub frequently, including after every contact with the ill person or the person’s room or toilet.
- Use paper towels to dry hands after hand washing or have a dedicated cloth towel for each person in the household.
- Do not have meals with the ill person as masks would have to be removed during meals.
- Wear a surgical mask and remain at a distance of at least 2 metres from one another if you need to communicate with the ill person.
- Maintain good ventilation at home (e.g. keeping windows open in the toilet, kitchen and rooms).
What else should I take note of if I am a caregiver of a person with Influenza A (H1N1-2009)?

As far as possible, there should only be 1 adult caregiver looking after the ill person. If you are pregnant, you should avoid being the caregiver by making alternative arrangements as you are at an increased risk of flu-related complications and immunity can be suppressed during pregnancy.
When attending to the ill person, always remember to:
- Wear surgical mask.
- Clean your hands with soap and water (or an alcohol-based hand rub) after you have touched the infected person, soiled linens or laundry.
- Be alert and call for help when the infected person’s health deteriorates or the symptoms worsen.
Do not give aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to children or teenagers who have the flu. This can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome.
What precautions should I take for household cleaning, laundry and waste disposal?

- Tissue papers and other disposable items that have been used by the infected person should be thrown in the dustbin. Please wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub after disposing those items.
- Surfaces soiled with sputum, phlegm, nose discharge or vomit should be washed or wipes with 1:50 diluted household bleach (1 part of bleach to 50 parts of water) immediately. Metallic surfaces can be cleaned with 70% alcohol.
- Bed sheets, towels, eating utensils and dishes used by the infected person do not need to be washed separately, but they should not be shared without washing thoroughly first.
- Bed sheets and towels can be washed using household fabric washing powder in the washing machine on hot setting.
- Do not carry dirty laundry by ‘hugging’ to avoid contaminating yourself. Clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub after handling the dirty laundry.
- Eating utensils should also be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap.
Is it safe to travel?

H1N1 is now a global pandemic. As the virus is circulating widely in many communities, the World Health Organization does not recommend any travel advisory. Keep yourself informed of developments in the country you are planning to visit.
What should I do if I fall ill overseas?

You should consult a doctor as soon as possible and avoid travelling until you have recovered. This is to avoid infecting other passengers.
What should I do after returning to Singapore?

Monitor your health for seven days and look out for flu-like symptoms.

How To Protect Yourself and Others Against H1N1

As a final note, under no circumstances, please refrain from doing this :-

Baby Kissing Pig (please don’t do this)

Author's Bio:
ShopBug.com is a Singapore registered online webstore that sells baby products and ladies fashion. We are a commercial entity but we write posts that remain as neutral as possible, and in the event when we recommend products from our webstore, we'll try to list them separately to keep you aware. We will not be bias in our story just to sell you any products and all posts written by us are as genuine as it can be.

Tags: flu vaccination, influenze, pandemic, Respiratory infections