What is the pneumococcal vaccine? For more information about influenza and the influenza vaccine, visit: • The vaccine is made of purified proteins and protects against different types of Health Canada pneumococcal bacteria. www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/dc-ma/influenza-eng.php • Healthy adults who get the vaccine Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Infection Control develop protection to most or all of these www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/ pneumococcal bacteria within two to three publichealth/flu weeks of getting the shot. Seasonal Influenza or call the ServiceOntario INFOline at: Who should be vaccinated for 1-877-844-1944 Vaccine and Pneumococcal pneumococcus? TTY 1-800-387-5559 TTY (Toronto) 416-327-4282 Vaccine Information Anyone can get pneumococcal disease, but Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. some people are at greater risk of getting the disease and of becoming very seriously For more information about the ill. People who should be vaccinated include pneumococcal vaccine, visit: anyone who is 65 years of age and over, as well as younger people who have special Centers for Disease Control and Prevention health problems such as alcoholism, heart www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/ or lung disease, kidney failure, diabetes, HIV vis-ppv.pdf infection or cancer.

What are the side effects of the pneumococcal vaccine? • The vaccine is well tolerated with few side effects. • The most common side effect is a sore arm. • The only serious, but very rare, side effect is an allergic reaction.

What should I do if I still have questions about the influenza or pneumococcal vaccines?

If you have further questions or concerns Infection Control about getting vaccinated against influenza or 210-600 University Avenue pneumococcus, please ask your doctor, nurse Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X5 or health-care provider. t 416-586-3118

www.mountsinai.ca 2011 September 201105121 Revised Mount Sinai Hospital is dedicated How easily is influenza spread? • About one in 10,000 people experience red, itchy eyes, dry cough and sore throat. to delivering safe patient and Influenza is very easily spread by touch family-centred care. These symptoms are usually mild and last (e.g. kissing, shaking hands and then touching only a few hours. We offer influenza vaccines (flu shots) to the face), as well as by droplets expelled • Studies have found no adverse long-term effects. all patients admitted between October and during breathing, talking, sneezing or January. We recommend that you get a coughing. When one person in a household • The new purified influenza vaccines we use vaccination if you have not had one this year. has influenza, there is a 15 per cent chance do not cause fever, tiredness or muscle aches. that someone else will get it. If your illness means that you are at risk of Is there anyone who should not serious pneumococcal infection, and you have What is the influenza vaccine? get vaccinated? not received the pneumococcal vaccine, we • Flu vaccines are a safe and effective means will offer you one. • People who are allergic to eggs (have of preventing both mild and severe cases hives, facial swelling or anaphylaxis when of influenza. What is influenza? they eat eggs) should not get the flu shot • The flu vaccine is made up of purified because the vaccine may contain traces of • Influenza is a disease caused by an proteins from killed influenza viruses. egg protein. influenza virus infection. • The flu vaccine starts working a few days • People who have had allergic reactions to • Symptoms may include fever, headache, after you get it and is fully effective after other vaccines should consult a physician runny nose, cough and muscle aches. 14 days. It will continue to protect you for before being vaccinated. People usually start to feel sick between at least nine months. 18 hours and four days after exposure to What is Streptococcus pneumoniae? someone with influenza. • Because there are different influenza strains every year, the vaccine is updated annually • Streptococcus pneumoniae, or • Influenza is often called “the flu”, but to ensure that current influenza virus strains pneumococcus, is a bacteria that causes ear people use the term “flu” to refer to many are covered. You should get an influenza infections and meningitis in children, and other infections as well. Influenza can be vaccination every year, preferably in October pneumonia, bloodstream infections and mistaken for the “common cold”. However, or November. meningitis, in adults. flu symptoms are usually more severe • As the vaccine is made up of killed virus, • According to the Center for Disease Control, • In Canada, almost all influenza occurs in a it will not cause influenza. It will only cause about one in every 20 people who get 10 to 12 week period, some time between your body to create antibodies to protect pneumonia die from the infection; two November and March. against the virus. people out of 10 who get bloodstream • Influenza can affect anyone. About one in infections will die; and three people out six people get influenza every year. What are the side effects of the of 10 who get meningitis will die. influenza vaccine? • Influenza can cause serious complications • Antibiotics such as penicillin were once such as pneumonia and worsen existing • The most common side effect is a sore effective in treating all cases of infection medical conditions in pregnant women, arm (at the site of injection) following due to the pneumococcus. Today, however, young children, the elderly and people with vaccination. This usually lasts for a few antibiotic resistance is making these chronic illness. hours but in some instances may last a bacteria more difficult to treat. This makes few days. preventing disease through vaccination even more important.