Approximately 36,000 people in the United States die from influenza every year, and more than more than 200,000 have to be admitted to the hospital because of this disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The flu is no joke! I’ve had it, complete with the coughing and aches down to the bone. I was out of commission for about a week! Now I get the flu shot every year, and it seems to be doing its job.
Flu season starts in October with the peak months December through February. It’s a good idea to be vaccinated before the peak months; however, any time is better than not at all!
Your body should produce antibiotics against specific flu strains about 2 weeks after being vaccinated. And I say specific strains because the vaccine doesn’t protect from every single flu virus out there. It would be great if it did, but the reality is these flu “bugs” change quite often, so we need to get a new vaccine every year to keep up with them.
There are 2 ways you can be vaccinated:
- The Flu Shot: This uses killed flu viruses. The viruses can't multiply inside your body and make you sick with the flu. The flu shot is approved for people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
- The Flu Mist (Nasal Spray): This is made with live viruses, but they're too weak to actually cause the flu. It is approved for use in healthy people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.
Don't get the flu vaccination if you:
- Are allergic to eggs/egg products (eggs are used in making the flu vaccine)
- Are an infant under 6 months of age
- Have ever had a severe reaction to a flu vaccination
- Have Guillain-Barré syndrome
- Have a fever
Talk to your health care provider or county health department if you'd like more information on receiving the flu vaccination.
Above all, have a happy and healthy autumn!
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[...] fact, the nurse was even kind enough to give me a piece of candy and a colorful band aid! I think getting a flu vaccination is very important, and I have had a flu shot pretty much every year for the past 10 years or so. Luckily, I [...]
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