This is actually quite hilarious when you actually understand what number 1 and number 12 are telling you... 2014 Flu Shot Facts ‘Tis the season for fevers, muscles aches, and fatigue. The flu is rampant this time of year and by the end of the season, hundreds of thousands of people will have been hospitalized because of it. The CDC claims the best prevention is getting the flu shot. With a quick search online, you’ll find endless arguments about why you should or shouldn’t get the flu vaccine. Unfortunately, you’ll also find a lot of information that has caused myths and misconceptions about what the flu shot is, how and why it protects you, potential side effects, and who’s encouraged to get it. On top of some of the most common symptoms like fatigue and fever, the flu can be quite dangerous to your health. Knowing the facts can help you make an informed decision, so check out these 2014 flu shot facts. 1. You Can’t Get the Flu From the Flu Shot One of the most common myths about the flu shot is that you can get the flu from it, but it’s outright impossible for that to happen. The misconception stems from the fact that the flu shot contains killed flu viruses. The fact that there’s technically the virus – but inactivated – in the vaccine is what people latch on to. But the viruses in it are dead, so there isn’t any way for it to give you the flu. There are some nasal sprays that contain weakened flu viruses, but again, you can’t get the flu from it – the virus in the spray could only infect your nose, nowhere else. 2. Mild Side Effects Are Okay Many people who get the flu vaccine experience mild side effects, including headaches, fever, runny nose and muscle aches. When your body’s response to the vaccine displays these mild symptoms, it doesn’t mean the vaccine won’t work. Mild side effects should only last 1 or 2 days, and you typically begin experiencing them soon after getting your shot. There’s no need to worry about mild side effects or the shot’s effectiveness because reactions do not impact the way it works in your body. But if you experience more severe symptoms, you should contact a medical professional right away. 3. The Flu Vaccine Is the Best Way to Protect Yourself According to the CDC, getting a flu shot is the best way to reduce your chances of getting influenza. Each year, the flu virus can change from the previous year, developing into new strains. Because of this, the virus is examined annually and the vaccines are adjusted as needed – this is why it’s important to get the flu shot every year, not just once. On top of the changes of the strain, your body’s response to vaccinations declines as time passes, making it important to give your immune system the extra boost and protection on an annual basis. 4. The Earlier You Get the Flu Shot, the Better Flu season lasts a long time, from as early as the beginning of fall until May. It typically peaks in January and February, but that’s not the only time you can catch the virus. Some may argue the vaccine is stronger during the peak time if you hold off on getting the shot, but waiting to this long leaves your immune system unprotected during the fall and early winter months. It’s encouraged that if you’re getting the flu shot, you get it at the beginning, around October. Your best line of defense is getting it early and building the antibodies needed to combat the virus. 5. Influenza Vaccines Have a Good Track Record You’ve probably heard stories about a friend of a friend getting really sick from the flu shot. A lot of these stories get changed as they pass from person to person, and most of the time, you end up hearing an exaggerated recount of what the flu shot did to them. And while they might have suffered some side effects from the vaccine, flu shots generally have a good track record for safety – it’s still much more safe to get the shot than not. Of course, if you do experience severe side effects or if they get worse each time you get the shot, consult your doctor. 6. It Protects People At High Risk for Complications Even if you’ve never had the flu before, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get the flu shot to protect yourself and the people you spend time or live with. There are groups of people at a high risk for complications if they get the flu. If you or someone you’re close to is considered high risk, getting the flu shot could save their life – or at the very least, avoid serious complications. Some of the people considered high risk include those with heart disease, asthma, cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS or arthritis, infants, children and seniors, and women who are pregnant. 7. It Takes Two Weeks to Kick In Ideally, you should get the flu shot as early as possible to best avoid catching the virus because there is a window of time after the shot when you’re still at risk. It takes two weeks for the flu shot to be effective because your body has to produce the antibodies required to fight off the flu virus. But don’t worry – even if you don’t get the flu shot until winter is in full swing, you could still benefit from it. If you get the flu after you’ve had the shot, it’s either because you’re within the two week window or you’ve caught a different strain of flu than what the vaccine protects you from. 8. People 6 Months and Older Should Get It As a parent, it can be difficult to decide if your infant or young children should get the flu shot. It seems the biggest debate over the benefits of vaccinations is about young children. Tasked with the responsibility to do the best you can for your child, a flu shot can be scary to agree to when there’s a lot of people and organizations that warn against it. But, the CDC encourages infants from 6 months old all the way to the elderly to get the shot. The vaccine is closely monitored by the CDC and other organizations – they actively collect information about severe reactions, ensuring the vaccine is as safe as possible. 9. Flu Vaccines Boost Your Immune System A common controversial topic about the flu vaccine is that it weakens your immune system, when it usually does the opposite and gives it a boost. The change in seasons weakens your immune system, making you more susceptible to catching the flu or a cold. The boost to your immune system that the flu shot provides can help protect your body from catching the flu virus, as well as fight off the illness if you get the flu. Once you get the vaccine, your body will produce antibodies to protect you against the strains in the vaccine. 10. You Could Still Get the Flu Unfortunately, getting the flu shot does not guarantee you won’t catch the flu. There are so many different strains, making it impossible for scientists to create a vaccine that protects against every strain of virus out there. The flu shot is altered each year as needed to best match the influenza strains they predict and know of, but there is only so much they can do. You might get a strain that wasn’t included in the vaccine, get the flu before you get your shot, or your vaccine may not have kicked in yet since your body takes a couple weeks to build the necessary antibodies. 11. It Reduces Your Chance of Severe Flu Symptoms The CDC estimates that getting the flu shot can reduce your chance of having to see a health professional because of the flu by 60%. It does not completely eliminate your chances of getting the virus, but it significantly reduces the likelihood of having to seek medical help if you do get it – the severity of your flu symptoms can be much milder if you get the virus and have had a flu shot. And if you’re considered high-risk for serious complications, reducing your risk as much as possible could save you from requiring medical attention, being hospitalized, or in the worst case scenario, dying. 12. Some People Experience Severe Side Effects While the flu shot is typically safe, some people suffer more severe side effects that can lead to hospitalization or even death. Everyone’s body is different and as a result, the potential reactions to the vaccine are typically unpredictable in most cases. Each year, there are reports of severe side effects that require medical attention, anything from difficulty breathing and hives to high fever and dizziness. These symptoms could come on within a few minutes of the shot to a couple of hours later. People who have previously had a bad reaction should not get the vaccine, and your doctor should be aware of what happened. Lauren MacDonald By: Lauren MacDonald on Monday, November 17th, 2014 activebeat/your-health/2014-flu-shot-facts/?utm_source=outbrain&utm_campaign=activebeat_mobile_world&utm_medium=cpc
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 20:51:48 +0000
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