Sickle Cell & Flu Shots: Facts You Don't Know - BlackDoctor.org

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Common illnesses, like the flu, can quickly become dangerous, especially for a person with sickle cell disease. Studies have shown that people with sickle cell disease, especially children, are more likely to have flu complications that result in hospitalization and occasionally even death.

So what can you do to help protect yourself and your family?

Hand Washing

Washing your hands is one of the best ways to help prevent getting an infection. People with sickle cell disease, their family, and other caretakers should wash their hands with soap and clean water many times each day. If you don’t have soap and water, you can use gel hand cleaners with alcohol in them.

Times to wash your hands:
BEFORE

Making food
Eating

AFTER

Using the bathroom
Blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
Shaking hands
Touching people or things that can carry germs, such as:
> Diapers or a child who has used the toilet
> Food that is not cooked (raw meat, raw eggs, or unwashed vegetables)
> Animals or animal waste
> Taking out the trash
> Spending time with a sick person

Food Safety

Bacteria, called salmonella, in some foods can be especially harmful to children with sickle cell disease. How to stay safe when cooking and eating:

Wash hands, cutting boards, counters, knives, and other utensils after they touch uncooked foods.
Wash vegetables and fruit well before eating them.
Cook meat until it’s well done. The juices should run clear and there should be no pink inside.
Do not eat raw or undercooked eggs. Raw eggs might be hiding in homemade hollandaise sauce, caesar and other homemade salad dressings, tiramisu, homemade ice cream, homemade mayonnaise, cookie dough, and frostings.
Do not eat raw or unpasteurized milk or other dairy products (cheeses). Make sure these foods have a label that says they are “pasteurized.”

Reptiles

Bacteria, called salmonella, that some reptiles have can be especially harmful to children with SCD. Make sure children stay away from turtles, snakes, and lizards.

Vaccines

People with sickle cell disease are considered “high risk” for certain infections and should follow a special vaccination schedule for the following vaccines:

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Pneumococcal vaccines
Meningococcal vaccines

Pay special attention to the footnotes that provide special instructions for people with sickle cell disease.

The flu shot is recommended yearly for everyone 6 months of age and older. People with sickle cell disease should get the flu shot, and not FluMist nasal spray.

Parents shouldn’t worry: the seasonal flu shot does not increase the risk of hospitalization for sickle cell crisis among children who have the condition.

After having a shot, it takes about 2 weeks for a person’s body to develop an immune response. Also, remember that anyone can get sick from the flu and easily spread the virus to friends and loved ones—even if they think they're healthy.

Don’t forget to contact your doctor and schedule an appointment for your annual flu shot if you haven't done so already. CDC recommends that people get flu shots as soon as they become available in their community.

Protect yourself and your family from the flu all season long!