It’s not too late to get your flu shot

With the spring season lastly in our sights, it’s simple to neglect the flu virus remains to be a menace. Flu season in america can final as late as Could, which suggests you continue to have to take precautions to stop getting sick. However don’t fear – it’s not too late to get your flu shot to guard your self from the virus.

In line with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), the one greatest option to shield your self in opposition to influenza, or the flu, is to get vaccinated annually. The flu is a critical illness that may result in hospitalization and generally even loss of life. Even wholesome folks can get very sick from the flu and unfold it to others.

Yearly the seasonal flu vaccine – or flu shot – protects in opposition to the flu viruses that analysis signifies will probably be commonest through the upcoming season. Conventional flu vaccines (known as trivalent vaccines) are made to guard in opposition to three flu viruses: an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus and an influenza B virus. This season there are flu vaccines made to guard in opposition to 4 flu viruses (known as “quadrivalent” vaccines). These vaccines shield in opposition to the identical viruses because the trivalent vaccine, in addition to a further B virus.

Who ought to get vaccinated?

Everybody who’s no less than six months of age ought to get a flu shot this season.

Who mustn’t get vaccinated?

The flu shot just isn’t authorised for kids youthful than six months of age. Individuals who have had a extreme allergic response to the flu shot ought to typically not be vaccinated. There are additionally some individuals who mustn’t get a flu shot with out first consulting a doctor. These embody:

• Individuals who have a moderate-to-severe sickness with or and not using a fever (they need to wait till they get well to get vaccinated) and
• Folks with a historical past of Guillain–Barré Syndrome (a extreme paralytic sickness, additionally known as GBS) that occurred after receiving the flu shot and who aren’t in danger for extreme sickness from the flu. Inform your physician in the event you ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Your physician will enable you to determine whether or not the vaccine is beneficial for you.

Can I get the flu from the flu shot?

No, a flu shot can not trigger flu sickness. Flu photographs which can be administered with a needle are at the moment made in two methods: 1) with flu vaccine viruses which were “inactivated” and are, subsequently, not infectious or 2) with no flu vaccine viruses in any respect.

The nasal spray flu vaccine does comprise reside viruses; nevertheless, the viruses are attenuated (weakened), and can not trigger flu sickness. The weakened viruses are cold-adapted, which suggests they’re designed to solely trigger an infection on the cooler temperatures discovered inside the nostril. The viruses can not infect the lungs or different areas the place hotter temperatures exist.

There are various myths and considerations in regards to the flu shot, so all the time get your data out of your doctor, pediatrician or from sources just like the CDC, Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH) or World Well being Group (WHO).

Listed below are different sources on the flu shot:

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/general/no-excuses-flu-vaccine-print.pdf

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childhoodimmunization.html

Final Up to date: October 5, 2023