Influenza and

Pneumococcal
Vaccines
 Agenda
• Introduction
• Video
• Pneumococcal and Influenza Facts
• Myths Vs. Facts
• Handwashing, use of alcohol based rubs, and cough etiquette
• Information on how to obtain the vaccinations
• Questions and Answers
 Influenza
Influenza is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza viruses that
infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs.
Flu symptoms:
• Fever of chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Fatigue
• Vomiting or diarrhea (more common in children)
THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT THE
FLU IT TO GET THE INFLUENZA
VACCINATION YEARLY
 Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a lung infection and is the most common pneumococcal
disease.
Symptoms include:
• Fever and chills
• Cough
• Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT
PNEUMONIA IS TO GET THE FLU
VACCINE YEARLY AND THE
PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE.
 VIDEO

Our best shot: The importance

of vaccines in older adults.
Myth or Fact?
 Myth or Fact

• The Flu vaccine will get me to get the flu?

 Myth
• Fact- The flu contains an inactivated virus that cannot give you the flu.
You may feel bad for a day or two after the vaccination but that is a
normal reaction of your immune system
 Myth Vs. Fact

• I had the flu vaccine but I still got the flu so

it doesn’t work
 Myth
• The flu vaccine is updated every year to protect against the most
common strains of the virus.
 Myth Vs. Fact

• The flu vaccine cause severe side effects.

 Myth
• 1:1 million may get Guillian-Barre syndrome which causes muscle
weakness and paralysis
 Myth vs. Fact

• You can only catch pneumonia in cold places

 Myth
• You can get pneumonia anywhere and anytime of the year
 Myth Vs. Fact

• If you take good care of yourself you are not

at risk for pneumonia
 Myth
• At 65 years or older the risk of hospitalization is over 10 times greater
than and adults 18-49 year old.
 Myth Vs. Fact

• The best way to prevent the flu and

pneumonia is to receive the vaccinations.
 FACT
• The best way to prevent the flu and pneumonia is to receive a flu shot
yearly and a pneumonia vaccination.
 Infection Control Prevention
Measures
• Handwashing
• Alcohol- based rubs
• Cough etiquette
 Handwashing
When to wash your hands:
• Before and after eating
• After using the bathroom
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching garbage
• When your hands are visibly soiled
 Steps to washing hands
• Wet your hands with clean, running water and apply soap
• Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather
the back of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails
• Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. You can sing “Happy
Birthday: twice
• Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
 Alcohol-based rubs
• Apply the gel to the palm of one hand
• Rub your hands together
• Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your
hands are dry. About 20 seconds.
 Cough Etiquette
• Use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose every time you cough or
sneeze
• Cough into your elbow is a tissue is not available
• Never cough in to your hands or open air
• Always turn your face away from people when coughing or sneezing.
• Place your use tissue immediately in the trash
• Wash your hands or use alcohol- based hand sanitizer.
How to schedule a flu or pneumonia
vaccine
• Contact Dixie Staples, Infection Preventionist
• Contact a nurse on the floor
Questions
 Reference
5 myths about the flu vaccine. (n.d.). WHO | World Health Organization.
https://www.who.int/influenza/spotlight/5-myths-about-the-flu-vaccine
65 OR OLDER? (2018, August 23). Know Pneumonia.
https://www.knowpneumonia.com/pneumococcal-pneumonia-did-you-know
Bastable, S., Gramet, P., Jacobs, K., & Sopczyk, D. (2011). Health Professional as
Educator: Principles of Teaching and Learning. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Key Facts About Influenza (Flu). (2019, October 28). Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts.htm
Pneumococcal Disease | Facts About Pneumonia | CDC. (2019, November 5).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/about/facts.html