Death of Son Reinforces Flu Vaccination Message

Oct. 4, 2022 – Brent known as his dad, Jeb Teichman, MD, in November 2019 saying he had felt sick for the previous 3 days. The in any other case wholesome 29-year-old had a cough, sore throat, and was operating a fever.

“It was what the CDC would call classic influenza-like illness,” Jeb Teichman stated. “It was too late to start antivirals, so I gave him advice on symptomatic treatment. We texted the next day, and I was glad to hear that his fever was trending down and that he was feeling a little bit better.”

Two days later, his son known as once more. 

“He said he was having trouble breathing, and over the phone I could hear him hyperventilating.” The retired pediatrician and well being care government advised his son to hunt medical care. 

“Then I got the call that no parent wants to get.” 

Brent’s cousin Jake known as saying he could not wake Brent up.

“I called Jake back a few minutes later and asked him to hold up the phone,” Teichman stated. “I listened to EMS working on my son, calling for round after round of many medications. He was in arrest and they couldn’t revive him.”

“To this day when I close my eyes at night, I still hear the beeping of those monitors.”

Brent had no well being situations to place him at greater threat for issues of the flu. “Brent was a wonderful son, brother, uncle, and friend. He had a passion for everything he did, and that included his chosen calling of the culinary arts but also included University of Kentucky sports,” Teichman says.

Brent deliberate to get a flu vaccine however had not performed it but. “In his obituary, we requested that in lieu of flowers or donations, people go get their flu shot,” his father stated.

“I’m here today to put a face on influenza,” Teichman stated at a information briefing Tuesday on stopping the flu and pneumococcal illness, sponsored by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID). 

New Survey Numbers ‘Alarming’

The NFID commissioned a nationwide survey of greater than 1,000 U.S. adults to higher perceive their information and attitudes concerning the flu, pneumococcal illness, vaccines, and the affect of COVID-19.

“We were alarmed to learn that only 49% of U.S. adults plan to get their flu vaccine this season,” stated Patricia A. “Patsy” Stinchfield, a registered nurse, NFID president, and moderator of the information briefing. “That is not good enough.”

In addition, 22% of individuals at greater threat for flu-related issues don’t plan to get vaccinated this season. “That’s a dangerous risk to take,” Stinchfield stated. 

An encouraging discovering, she stated, is that 69% of adults surveyed acknowledge that an annual flu vaccination is one of the best ways to stop flu-related hospitalizations and loss of life. 

“So, most people know what to do. We just need to do it,” she stated.

The high cause for not getting a flu shot this 12 months, talked about by 41% of individuals surveyed, is they don’t suppose vaccines work very effectively. Another 39% are involved about vaccine uncomfortable side effects, and 28% skip the vaccine as a result of they “by no means get the flu.” 

The consultants on the panel emphasised the advice that every one Americans 6 months or older get the flu vaccine, ideally by the top of October. Vaccination is particularly necessary for these at greater threat of issues from the flu, together with youngsters underneath 5, pregnant ladies, folks with a number of well being situations, the immunocompromised, and Americans 65 years and older. 

Stinchfield acknowledges that the effectiveness of the flu vaccine varies season to season, however even when the vaccine doesn’t utterly match the circulating viruses, it may possibly assist forestall severe outcomes like hospitalization and loss of life. One of the intense potential issues is pneumonia or “pneumococcal disease.” 

“Our survey shows that only 29% of those at risk have been advised to receive a pneumococcal vaccine,” Stinchfield says.

“The good news is that among those who were advised to get the vaccine, 74% did receive their pneumococcal vaccine,” she stated. “This underscores a key point to you, my fellow clinicians: As health professionals, our recommendations matter.”

Higher Doses for 65+ Americans

The CDC up to date suggestions this flu season for adults 65 and older to obtain considered one of three preferentially really helpful flu vaccines, stated CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD. The CDC is recommending higher-dose, stronger vaccines for older Americans “based on a review of the available studies, which suggested that in this age group, these vaccines are potentially more effective than standard-dose … vaccines.”

During most seasons, folks 65 and older bear the best burden of extreme flu illness, accounting for many flu-related hospitalizations and deaths. 

“They are the largest vulnerable segment of our society,” Walensky stated. 

What Will This Flu Season Be Like?

Health officers within the flu vaccine enterprise additionally are typically within the flu season prediction enterprise. That consists of Walensky.

“While we will never exactly know what each flu season will hold, we do know that every year, the best way you can protect yourself and those around you is to get your annual flu vaccine,” she stated whereas participating remotely within the briefing. 

How extreme will the flu season be this 12 months? William Schaffner, MD, stated he will get that query lots. “Don’t think about that. Just focus on the fact that flu will be with us each year.”

“We were a little bit spoiled. We’ve had two mild influenza seasons,” stated Schaffner, medical director of NFID and a professor of infectious ailments and preventive medication at Vanderbilt University. “I think with all the interest in COVID, people have rather forgotten about influenza. I’ve had to remind them that this is yet another serious winter respiratory virus.” 

“As I like to say, flu is fickle. It’s difficult to predict how serious this next outbreak of influenza this season is going to be. We could look at what happened in the Southern Hemisphere,” he stated. 

For instance, Australia had the worst influenza season previously 5 years, Schaffner stated. “If you want a hint of what might happen here and you want yet another reason to be vaccinated, there it is.”

What we do know, Walensky stated, is that the timing and severity of the previous two flu seasons within the U.S. have been completely different than typical flu seasons. “And this is likely due to the COVID mitigation measures and other changes in circulating respiratory viruses.” Also, though final flu season was “relatively mild,” there was extra flu exercise than within the prior, 2020-21 season. 

Also, Walensky stated, final season’s flu circumstances started to extend in November and remained elevated till mid-June, “making it the latest season on record.”

The official reason behind Brent Teichman’s loss of life was multilobar pneumonia, trigger undetermined. “But after 30-plus years as a pediatrician … I know influenza when I see it,” his dad stated.

“There’s a hole in our hearts that will never heal. Loss of a child is devastating,” he stated. The flu “can take the life of a healthy young person, as it did to my son.”

“And for all those listening to my story who are vaccine hesitant, do it for those who love you. So that they won’t walk the path that we and many other families in this country have walked.”

To show their level, Teichman and Stinchfield raised their sleeves Tuesday and obtained flu photographs in the course of the information briefing. 

“This one is for Brent,” Teichman stated.