In areas around the country, the influenza virus triggers flu outbreaks. The COVID-19 pandemic, which is occurring simultaneously, may make this year and the upcoming particularly difficult.
The flu is highly contagious. Every year, it results in hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and fatalities.
Every year, the influenza vaccine is available to help people avoid getting sick with the flu. Is it, however, safe? And how important is it?
Flu Shot Vaccine
The unpredictability of the season of flu, as well as its variable severity, calls for annual flu vaccination. The best strategy to avoid influenza in persons aged six months is to get a flu shot vaccine annually.
The best way to lower the risk of catching and transmitting the flu to others is to receive a flu shot vaccine every year. The flu viruses are less likely to spread through a community when more individuals are vaccinated.
The flu shot vaccine will cause your immune system to develop antibodies that will protect you from the disease, but it will not make you sick. Antibodies can take up to two weeks to form in the body after vaccination, so it's critical to receive your flu vaccine as soon as possible before flu season begins.
The flu vaccine is highly safe, although certain people should not have it. They are:
- Children under the age of six months
- Persons who have had a severe response to the flu vaccine or any of its ingredients
- People who are allergic to eggs or mercury
- Perople who have Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)
Importance of Flu Vaccine
While the flu vaccination isn't 100% effective, it significantly reduces the risk of contracting the flu, which may be extremely dangerous. If someone who has received the immunization nevertheless gets the flu, it might make the symptoms less severe.
Because flu viruses evolve, the flu vaccine you received last year may not give adequate protection this year. As a result, the vaccination is updated yearly to contain the most recent viral strains.
The vaccination may include the same viral strains from one year to the next. Even so, obtaining the yearly flu vaccination is critical since the body's antibody to the virus deteriorates with time.
Getting the flu vaccine protects you from more than just the flu. It also aids in the protection of those in your immediate vicinity. The flu vaccination reduces the risk of getting the flu and, as a result, the risk of spreading it. Getting the flu vaccination is an excellent approach to protect those vulnerable to the flu, such as the elderly, newborns, and those with chronic illnesses like asthma. Thousands of people die each year due to influenza, and being vaccinated is one method to help avoid this.
Benefits of Flu vaccine
Flu vaccination has the potential to save your life.
Dehydration, exacerbation of existing conditions, bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, and sinus infections are all serious flu complications that may necessitate hospitalization.
Getting a flu vaccination might help you spend less time unwell.
It will cost you money whether you are hospitalized or take time off to recover at home.
The flu vaccine is available to the majority of people.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), anyone over the age of six months should get a flu vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There is a flu vaccine available for seniors.
A flu shot is given to anybody over the age of six months, and a version for persons 65 and over provides even more protection against the flu.
The flu vaccine is updated every year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies which influenza strains are most likely to develop each year before the start of flu season. The vaccination reduces your odds of catching specific strains of the virus. If you do become sick, it can drastically lower the intensity of your symptoms and speed up your recovery.
The flu strain that was introduced by the flu vaccination is eradicated. When your immune system comes into touch with the virus that has been destroyed, it activates it and produces antibodies. If you come across the flu, you'll be prepared to battle it and lower your chances of being ill.
The flu vaccine's adverse effects are typically minor.
Side effects are possible with every immunization. You may suffer minor side effects after the flu vaccination, such as a headache, stuffy nose, or sore throat, while others may have none. These side effects usually last a day or two, whereas the flu itself might last up to two weeks with the possibility of serious complications.
The flu vaccine boosts herd immunity.
It's crucial to receive the flu vaccination for yourself and those who aren't eligible for it, such as babies or individuals with compromised immune systems. Herd immunity is a type of protection that is produced when many people are inoculated, and it helps reduce the chance of the flu spreading.
The flu virus is straightforward to transfer from person to person. When an infected individual speaks, sneezes, or coughs, minute microscopic droplets enter your nose or mouth, causing you to get infected. You can also contract the flu by contracting something with germs on it and then touching your lips, eyes, or nose.
How to Prevent the Flu
Although the flu vaccine is your greatest weapon against the virus, there are other precautions you can take to help protect yourself against the flu. The following are some of the steps:
- Hands should be washed frequently and thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.
- If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- When the virus is spreading in your community, avoid crowds.
- Avoid being in close proximity to ill people.
- Cover your mouth with a tissue or your elbow when you cough or sneeze, then wash your hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as countertops, light switches, and doorknobs regularly. This can help prevent infection from spreading from contacting a virus-infected surface on your face.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, lots of water, a nutritious diet, and stress management are all recommended.
If you are sick with the flu, staying inside your home and away from others can help prevent the virus from spreading. Stay at home for at least 24 hours after your fever has subsided.
It's not too late to get vaccinated against the flu!
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