We all get down with flu more than once a year without knowing that it can be very serious. As thousands of people around the world are hospitalized with a flu-related illness and lost their lives to the virus. If you want to protect yourself from this virus, you must take suitable measures to stay healthy and safe. According to physician practices associated with Sybrid MD, flu vaccines have proven as the best protection against flu-related illnesses. Flu season usually starts around October and may last throughout May, so it is safe to get a flu shot as early as possible to protect yourself against the virus.
Types of flu vaccines
There are different flu shots available that are suitable for different age groups. The traditional flu shot which is made of dormant flu viruses are injected in the arm and it protects against the most common flue attacks during the season. Then there is an egg-free flu vaccine that is suitable for people who are allergic to eggs. Therefore, if you are 18, and allergic to eggs, this is the most reliable and convenient option for you. For people aged 65 and above, there is a high dose flu shot which is stronger to meet their needs. An intradermal flu shot is suitable for the age group 18-64. Hence, no matter if you are as young as 18 or as old as 64, there are specific flu vaccines to cater to your needs. Trivalent flu vaccines can protect from three types of flu whereas quadrivalent vaccines fight against four types of flu and both types are available in traditional flu shots.
How it works
Flu vaccines prepare your body to fight against infections from the flu virus. Vaccines create antibodies in your body that start working after two weeks. So, if you catch a flu virus before the vaccines start to work, you should not blame or associate the vaccine for it, since it starts working after a specific time.
The vaccine is extremely important to protect you from the flu virus and it is highly recommended to get vaccinated at the end of fall and beginning of winter. Kids aged 2-5 or adults aged 64 and above, both age groups are most likely to get flu-related illness and must be vaccinated. Pregnant women, asthma patients and people with lung, kidney or heart problems are specifically advised to get the flu shots. Those who are under 19 and undergoing aspirin therapy should also get flu shots. It is important to make sure that you are getting the right flu vaccine. You must also make sure that you haven’t had an allergic reaction to a previous flu shot, you haven’t developed Guillain-Barre syndrome because of a previous flu shot or that you aren’t physically sick. In such conditions, you must avoid getting the flu vaccine.
Flu shot side effects
You may be thinking about the side effects of flu but fortunately, if there are allergic reactions, they aren’t severe. One may experience slight fever or may feel tired or fatigued after a flu shot. There may be some swelling where the needle has pricked you and that’s about it. Critical side effects are rare and include difficulty in breathing, dizziness or rapid heartbeat. In this case, you should contact your doctor or call the emergency as soon as possible. Children may also develop side effects which include fever, vomiting, muscle ache, headaches, and runny nose. There is also a FluMist nasal vaccine and is appropriate for healthy people between the ages of 2 to 49. However, this should be avoided during pregnancy, and to children under the age of 5 with wheezing problems and people consuming aspirin.
Getting the annual flu vaccine
Flu vaccines are readily available in many hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, pharmacies and sometimes even in schools. Get yourself vaccinated every year due to two major reasons. First, since the effects of a vaccine reduce over time and retaking vaccine may help in optimal protection against the flu virus. Secondly, since flu viruses are getting stronger, we need to update our vaccines to provide us better protection against changing flu viruses. Flu vaccines help to reduce the seriousness of the disease even if you catch flu. It also reduces the risk of hospitalization in adults and children with flu-related diseases. Ultimately, the flu vaccine reduces the number of deaths in children that are caused due to influenza and is considered a lifesaving drug. Prevention is always better than cure, so it is better to be safe and healthy than by getting cured after the disease attack. People living in colder regions must get the flu vaccine to gain maximum protection against the virus.
