Why the Flu Shot
Lydia Roberson 4th
What really is a flu shot?
The influenza vaccination is an annual vaccination using a vaccine specific for a given year to protect against the highly variable influenza virus. Since influenza rapidly changes all the time, people become susceptible to them every year. Flu shots or nasal spray will help to prevent the chances of getting influenza.
What really is the flu?
The flu is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. The flu is not the same as a cold, although they share many of the same symptoms. The cold is caused by a different virus, and it tends to have milder symptoms than the flu.
Flu symptoms can include any or all of the following:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Fever
- Body aches
- Runny nose and/or congestion
- Tiredness
These symptoms, although uncomfortable, are generally not too dangerous. But the flu also weakens the immune system, leaving it vulnerable to more serious infections. High-risk individuals in particular are susceptible to serious complications, such as:
- Bacterial pneumonia
- Dehydration
- Sinus problems and ear infections (primarily in children)
- Worsening of preexisting conditions, such as asthma or diabetes
Why should I get the flu shot?
If you want a fighting chance against the flu, doctors recommend that you get an annual flu shot. The good news is that the flu shot side effects are minor and shouldn't be a concern if you're looking to get a flu shot vaccine. If you have no specific conditions or allergies to the flu shot, anyone over the age of 6 months can receive the flu vaccine. Because it takes 2 weeks for the flu vaccine to take effect, it's best to get your flu shot early in the season. While many people are scared that one of the flu shot vaccine side effects is to get a bout of the flu, the truth is that the flu shot will NOT give you the flu: The flu virus in the vaccine going into your arm is dead, making it impossible for you to catch the flu by getting a flu shot or getting near someone who just had a flu shot vaccine. For many, the flu shot becomes a matter of life or death.