Each year, 200,000 Americans are hospitalized due to flu-related complications. That number can rise or fall often dramatically based on the effectiveness of the selected flu vaccine, according to Dr. Jorge Parada, director of infection prevention and control at Loyola University Health System.
The newly approved 2011 2012 flu vaccine is exactly the same as the one for 2010/2011, and again will target both the H1N1 flu and seasonal flu virus:
- A/California/7/09 (H1N1) like virus (pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus.)
- A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus.
- B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.
"Southeast Asia experiences the flu first and then it is spread globally," Parada explains. "A panel of influenza experts examines what is happening there and bases the flu vaccine on what they are seeing to prevent and attenuate the disease."
Parada says last years vaccine was effective. "The prediction was right on," he says. "And even though the vaccine is the same this year, people will still need to get a new vaccination."
The flu vaccination is usually good for six months of prevention.
People can potentially catch the flu three times in one season. "There are two species of influenza that typically infect humans, influenza A and influenza B," Parada adds. "And there are two strains of infuenza A, one of which is commonly called the Swine Flu."
Unlike measles, that you get once and never get again, people can get forms of the flu over and over. "The flu virus is not stable and mutates, creating new varieties of the flu," Parada says.
The traditional flu season is December, January and February, with January and February being peak months. Because the flu season can vary, Parada advises getting the vaccine as early as possible.
"The 2009-2010 season was an anomaly because the flu presented early and peaked in Chicago in mid October through mid-November," he says. Because of the potential for an early season, Parada says the Loyola medical community is beginning to offer the vaccination in late summer. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, part of Loyola University Health System, is offering the flu vacinations to patients beginning Sept. 1. "In addition to thwarting an early season, the flu vaccination takes two weeks to build immunity, so the earlier you receive it, the better chance you have of flu prevention."
Parada says his organization, Loyola , has a unique culture of safety and "walks the talk" when it comes to the flu. "This is the third year in a row that flu vaccinations are mandatory for staff, vendors, students and volunteers," he says. "Loyola had more than 99 percent compliance for the flu vaccine last year, netting a double risk reduction and a win-win . Staff were protected from getting infected by patients, and patients were protected from the spread of infection from medical staff." In early July, Parada gave a presentation on the success of Loyolas flu vaccination program at the first International Convention on Prevention And Infection Control sponsored by the Worldwide Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Next Frontier in Infection Control: AI-Driven Operating Rooms
Published: July 15th 2025 | Updated: July 15th 2025Discover how AI-powered sensors, smart surveillance, and advanced analytics are revolutionizing infection prevention in the OR. Herman DeBoard, PhD, discusses how these technologies safeguard sterile fields, reduce SSIs, and help hospitals balance operational efficiency with patient safety.
Targeting Uncertainty: Why Pregnancy May Be the Best Time to Build Vaccine Confidence
July 15th 2025New national survey data reveal high uncertainty among pregnant individuals—especially first-time parents—about vaccinating their future children, underscoring the value of proactive engagement to strengthen infection prevention.
CDC Urges Vigilance: New Recommendations for Monitoring and Testing H5N1 Exposures
July 11th 2025With avian influenza A(H5N1) infections surfacing in both animals and humans, the CDC has issued updated guidance calling for aggressive monitoring and targeted testing to contain the virus and protect public health.
IP LifeLine: Layoffs and the Evolving Job Market Landscape for Infection Preventionists
July 11th 2025Infection preventionists, once hailed as indispensable during the pandemic, now face a sobering reality: budget pressures, hiring freezes, and layoffs are reshaping the field, leaving many IPs worried about their future and questioning their value within health care organizations.