Flu season is upon us, and it is time to protect yourself and others from becoming ill. The best time to receive the flu shot is October or November, but you can still get vaccinated in December and later. Flu season can begin as early as October and last as late as May.
There are two types of vaccines. The flu shot is an inactivated vaccine (containing killed viruses) that is given with a needle. This is approved for the use in people older than six months, including healthy and people with chronic conditions. The “nasal-spray flu vaccine” is a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu. This is approved for use in healthy people five years to 49 years of age who are not pregnant. Both vaccines take one to two weeks to become effective.
The ability of the flu vaccine to protect a person depends on the age and health status of the person getting the vaccine, and the match between the virus strains in the vaccine and those in circulation.
Different side effects can be associated with flu shot and the nasal-spray vaccine. The flu shot can cause soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given, a low-grade fever and body aches. The nasal-spray vaccine could cause runny nose, headache, sore throat, fever, muscle aches, or cough. These side effects are the person’s immune system building antibodies for protection against the actual flu. If these problems occur, they begin soon after receiving the vaccine and last only one to two days. Almost all people who receive the flu vaccine have no serious problems from it.
The flu kills 36,000 people each year. Rates of serious illness and death from the flu are the highest among people 65 years or older, children aged less than two years, and persons of any age who have medical conditions that place them at risk for complications from influenza. The single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year.
For further information on the flu vaccine, please call Caring for You Health Center, Inc. at 661-284-2400.