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This interesting article explains a few things about flu shots and should be worth reading if you are considering having one.

The view of the medical community is one of the most effective ways to control the spread of influenza is to get immunized every fall. A new vaccine is produced every year that contains strains of three assorted viruses, which are based on what strains they believe will spread in the coming fall and winter season. An inoculation works by creating antibodies that will hopefully provide us with protection from these viruses within about two weeks from receiving the vaccination. Because these strains are constantly mutating, having an inoculation every year is highly recommended.

Another important way to help you minimize your risk is by washing your hands regularly, because you can get infected by shaking the hands of an infected person or by touching contaminated surfaces and then transferring the virus to your own eyes, mouth or nose. Keeping a small bottle of hand cleaning solution handy when you are out in public and using it often will also greatly reduce your chances of becoming infected. Ask your pharmacist about which product would work best for you.

For seniors 65 and over and young children under 6 months catching the flu can pose a very serious health risk and are recommended to get vaccinated as early as possible. Other groups at risk are patients with chronic heart problems including congenital heart disease and chronic heart failure or those with severe lung diseases such as asthma. People with liver disease or on drugs to suppress the immune system are also vulnerable and at extreme risk. A large portion of the population who work with or care for anyone at risk should also get inoculated. They include day care providers, health care staff in nursing homes and long-term care facilities and even household contacts. Well over 90 million people in the US get vaccinated each year, which goes a long way both to prevent illness and to prevent the spread to those most vulnerable.

Flu vaccines though are not recommended for people who have had in the past an allergic reaction to being vaccinated or developed Guillain-Barre syndrome within 6 weeks of receiving an inoculation. Anyone who is allergic to chicken eggs, is under the age of six months or is currently experiencing a fever due to an active viral or bacterial infection should also not get a flu shot.

Some people are worried about the side effects of getting flu shots but the health benefits far outweigh any risks and the side effects are relatively mild lasting just a day or two. The most common symptoms are muscle soreness and body aches, a noticeable redness and swelling at the site of the injection and occasionally a low fever. A few people can develop a condition called oculo- respiratory syndrome as a side effect and have symptoms that range from red eyes, coughing, tightness of the chest, difficulty breathing to a sore throat. Most of these symptoms are also mild and disappear after 48 hours.

One must remember that experiencing some mild side effects is far more manageable than actually coming down with the virus, which can be seriously uncomfortable and incapacitating as anyone who has experienced it can agree. Our short-term unpleasantness will also go a long way in the effort to stop the spread and will benefit those at risk. The number of cases and deaths attributed to the influenza have decreased significantly since the introduction of national vaccination programs and this trend hopefully will continue if we all do our part.

Your family's physician should always be consulted with when making any decision about your health and getting immunized.

I hope that reading the above article was informative for you and gave you a little better understanding about flu shots, so that you will be able to make a better decision this season.

 

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