I Don’t Need a Flu Shot!
Bill Rogers
Ball State University
1
Ryan was having a bad day. On top of waking
up nauseated, his computer was giving him
problems. “It’s probably all these junk
emails,” he complained to his girlfriend
Ashley. “Look at this one. It’s from the
campus health education office. Something
about free flu shots. Well it’s too late now; I
just got done with the stomach flu. And
besides, shots hurt!”
Ashley just rolled her eyes.
“What a wimp,” she thought.
2
Ashley is a biology major who is
also completing a minor in public
health administration. “Go get your
flu shot soon,” she instructed Ryan.
“I don’t want to be your personal
nurse when you get the real flu!”
“I told you, I just got over the flu. I don’t need
a shot! And besides, it’s not like I am going to
die from the flu or anything!” responded Ryan.
Ashley retorted, “Sit down and let me tell you
a thing or two Ryan. You are, well, how
should I put this nicely, woefully uninformed.”
Ryan just sighed.
3
“Look, Ryan. An average of
36,000 people in the United
States die each year as a
result of influenza-related
complications. So getting the
flu bug can be deadly!”
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
4
“Maybe so,” responded Ryan. “But the flu
only kills old and weak people, not a
physical masterpiece like myself.”
“Now I feel nauseous,” Ashley whispered
under her breath. “You did NOT have
influenza. Ryan, it was probably something
you ate. You ARE going to learn some
things about the flu. If nothing else, maybe
it will help you pass your next biology
exam. I really doubt you will do well on the
test if you don’t know the
difference between the
stomach flu, the 24-hour
flu, and real influenza!”
5
Influenza is caused by
an influenza virus.
6
7
Stomach Flu or 24-Hour Flu
• The “stomach flu,” sometimes referred to as
the 24-hour flu, is gastroenteritis, not influenza.
• Gastroenteritis is an irritation of the stomach
and intestines. It often is caused by bacteria,
other kinds of viruses, or parasites. Poor
hygiene or contaminated food or water are
likely sources.
• While the symptoms of gastroenteritis may
resemble influenza symptoms, gastroenteritis
usually only lasts for a day or two.
8
“All right, all right, you made your point,”
groaned Ryan. “But if I get the flu, I’ll just ask
the doctor for some penicillin. I still don’t
need a shot!”
“Ryan, Ryan, Ryan. Antibiotics don’t work
against a virus! You’ll feel so bad you won’t
even think of, well you know, being romantic
for maybe several weeks!” responded Ashley.
Ryan suddenly seemed
more interested.
“Typical male,” Ashley
thought to herself.
9
CQ#1: Which of the following is true?
A. If Ryan’s illness was caused by a virus, he
should begin taking antibiotics.
B. If Ryan has gastroenteritis, he should feel better
in one or two days.
C. Ryan’s stomach flu was probably caused by an
influenza virus.
D. The stomach flu kills around 36,000 people in
the United States every year.
10
“One more thing!” mentioned Ryan. “My
brother Bryan got a flu shot last year and it
actually gave him the flu!”
“No, no, no. He didn’t get the flu from the flu
vaccine. In rare cases, a person may have a
mild reaction to the shot that resembles the
flu, but even that is definitely not influenza,”
explained Ashley.
11
CQ#2: A flu shot may actually cause a
person to get sick with influenza.
A. True
B. False
12
“Okay, you win,” exclaimed Ryan. “I’ll just get the
shot over with. But is this like a tetanus shot where
I’ll have to get another one in 10 years or can I just
get one and be done with it?”
“Um. Sorry. In fact, I’m afraid you’ll have to get one
every year,” replied Ashley.
“What! Why? Must not be much of a vaccine!”
yelled Ryan.
Ashley explained, “Some viruses change or
undergo mutations. Influenza viruses mutate
constantly, so a vaccine that is effective one year
may be limited the next.”
13
Flu viruses may change slightly from year to year. This type
of a mutation is called “antigenic drift.” A person may have
little immunity to this mutated form of the virus.
Antigens
14
CQ#3: New flu vaccines are made every
year because:
A. The current flu vaccines are not safe.
B. Flu viruses mutate.
C. The number of people who get the flu each year
is increasing, so stronger vaccines are needed.
D. People develop resistance to the previous
vaccines.
E. Vaccine manufacturers need to make money.
15
“Well, what about this
Swine Flu that’s been in
the news? I saw on the
news last night that health
officials fear it is something
called a pandemic.”
Ashley explained that a
pandemic is sometimes
described as a worldwide
epidemic.
16
“Pandemic flu is virulent human flu that
causes a global outbreak, or pandemic, of
serious illness. Because there is little natural
immunity, the disease can spread easily
from person to person.” Source: http://www.pandemicflu.gov
17
“I saw a video clip about a flu pandemic in one
of my classes. Let me see if I can find it on
the web,” said Ashley.
PanFlu Storybook: Beth Hines
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/storybook/stories/1957/hines/index.html
18
“We also learned
about the Great Flu
Pandemic of 1918,
often also called the
“Spanish Flu,”
added Ashley.
Posted in Chicago, IL. 1918
19
“About 30 - 50 million people died worldwide during the
1918 flu pandemic including 675,000 Americans. An
unusually high proportion of casualties was found among
young adults, ages 20-40.”
Source: http:1918.pandemicflu.gov
20
Storyteller Gloria Gambale
Pennsylvania
"My grandfather, Nicola "Nick" Maffeo, and my grandmother
Constance Maffeo came to America from Italy. Constance
had a separate room curtained off when seven of their
children got sick with the pandemic flu. When she entered
the room she wore gauze over her nose and mouth. Of the
seven children who got sick, four of them died. They were
Frank, Nick and Rosa, and Dominic. Nick and Rosa were
twins. One of the three surviving children, my aunt May Ann
Maffeo, said that she knew when one of them was not going
to live because Constance would sit with the dying child in
the family's rocking chair and sing to him/her. The rocking
chair would creak and when it stopped, she knew they were
gone."
21
CQ#4: Form a hypothesis: Which of the
following best explains why Constance
Maffeo “never got the virus”?
A. She may have been one of those people who
just never seem to get sick.
B. She may have received a flu shot.
C. She may have developed immunity without
showing symptoms.
D. She wore gauze over her nose and mouth.
22
“During the 1918 flu pandemic, mortality rates
were high among healthy adults as well as the
usual high-risk groups. The attack rate and
mortality was especially high among young
adults.”
Source: http:1918.pandemicflu.gov
23
CQ#5: During the flu pandemic of 1918:
A. Elderly people were especially at risk.
B. The mortality rate was high, second only to
the Asian flu.
C. Over 600,000 Americans were killed.
D. It was the last major flu pandemic until
today.
24
“See Ryan, even a
physical masterpiece
like yourself can be at
high risk!” teased
Ashley.
Ryan responded “Yeah? Well, that
was over 90 years ago. Something
like that won’t happen again!”
25
“Let’s hope not!” Ashley commented. “But there
have been two other flu pandemics since then!”
Asian Flu (1957)
2 million deaths worldwide, 70,000 in the United States
Hong Kong Flu (1968)
700,000 deaths worldwide, 34,000 in the United States
“And new strains of influenza appeared in 1977,
1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2009!”
Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIH)
26
27
Source: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/
Ryan replied “Yeah, I heard about the 2009
strain, weren’t they calling it the swine flu for
awhile? But I’m not too worried. It’s not like
I’m planning on kissing a pig!”
“Lucky for the pig!” thought Ashley.
28
Various strains of flu viruses are are found in different hosts.
29
A common host may become infected with
different strains of flu viruses.
30
Different strains of flu viruses may combine to create a
new strain of flu. This is called “antigenic shift.”
31
The new strain may be able to be transmitted between
species as in the case of the “swine flu.”
The new strain may also be able to jump
from person to person.
32
CQ#6: The Swine Flu:
A. Is most common in rural areas.
B. Can be caught by eating undercooked pork.
C. Is especially dangerous since pigs show
different symptoms than humans.
D. Is a result of genetically different flu viruses
combining together in pigs.
33
“Okay, let’s go. I’m ready for my flu shot.
But it better work against the most current
strains of the flu!” muttered Ryan.
“Flu shots can be very
effective, but making one
against a new strain takes
time,” said Ashley.
“Huh? You mean you great scientists
can’t even keep up with a stupid little
virus?”
34
Annual Influenza Production Timeline
Surveillance
Year-Round
Strain Selection
January - March
Manufacturing and
Production
Purification and Testing
January - July
Filling and Packaging
July - December
Shipping
August - November;
Beyond as Needed
October and Beyond
Vaccination
Source: Sanofi Pasteur, Inc.
June - October
35
CQ#7: Which of the following is true
about a flu vaccine?
A. The vaccine will protect you from all strains of
influenza.
B. If a new flu strain is identified, a vaccine can be
mass-produced very quickly, which will limit the
severity of an outbreak.
C. It has been demonstrated that flu vaccines have
caused influenza in some instances.
D. Mutations in flu viruses may reduce a vaccine’s
effectiveness.
E. One flu vaccination will last for several flu
seasons.
36
“Fine, fine, but what am I supposed to do in
the meantime?” asked Ryan.
“Read this,” Ashley replied as she handed
him a pamphlet. “And good luck on your
next biology test.”
“After all, with your attitude, you’ll need some
luck!” Ashley thought.
37
 Get a flu vaccine
 Take everyday preventative measures
 Ask your doctor about antiviral drugs
Free flu resources are available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/index.htm
38
CQ#8: All of the following are true
about flu pandemics EXCEPT:
A. Pandemics are likely to be due to a new
strain of the flu.
B. The flu spreads quickly from person to
person.
C. People have little natural immunity toward
the viruses responsible for the pandemic.
D. Pandemics involve large numbers of people
in localized areas.
39
CQ#9: Which of the following situations
would be the most likely to contribute to
a new flu pandemic?
A. A year where very few people are immunized.
B. An environment where flu viruses common to
different species are present.
C. A year when a single strain of the flu virus
mutates.
D. A year when people from all over the world gather
together (such as the Olympics).
40
Ryan
Not too surprisingly, Ryan, Ashley’s former
boyfriend, did not do well on his biology exam.
He didn’t feel too good the day of the exam,
which he blamed on the stomach flu.
41