It's more than just a sniffle. It’s more than just discomfort. It’s more than just running a temp. It’s the flu – and it can be serious. For adults, it can mean missed work, low energy, and a break from your favorite activities. For kids, it can disrupt their education, make them feel miserable, and limit their playtime with friends. Of course, you may be under the impression that the flu is completely inevitable, but that is simply not the case. Along with safety precautions like washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or covering your mouth when you sneeze and cough, you can do your part in preventing the spread of the flu by ensuring that your entire family gets their annual flu shot.
Here are the main points you need to know about the flu vaccine:
1. It’s available at low or no cost to you.
Most health care insurance plans cover the annual flu shot as preventive care for adults. Flu vaccination is often available at no or low cost to adults who do not have insurance as well. As for kids, most insurance also covers the flu shot. The flu vaccine is also available at no cost through CDC’s Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program.
2. You should get your flu shot in the fall.
The optimal time to receive your flu vaccine is from September through October. It is strongly recommended by the CDC that individuals get vaccinated by the end of October as the flu season can start at any time. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to generate sufficient antibodies to protect against the flu. However, getting vaccinated later than this is still fine, as flu season can span into spring.
3. Almost everyone can (and should) get the flu shot.
The CDC recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months should be getting a flu shot each year. It is particularly important for high-risk groups like people over the age of 65, people with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant women to get the flu shot. These groups of people are at a higher risk from complications of the flu that can lead to hospitalizations and even death. Even if you are completely healthy, you should vaccinate to protect the vulnerable people in your life that you might come into contact with. The flu shot is safe for most people, but if you’re not sure if it’s right for you, you can talk to one of the knowledgeable providers at Allegra Family Clinic and receive the clarification you need.
4. You can’t contract the flu from a flu shot.
Don’t worry, you can’t catch the flu from the flu shot. That is because the virus in the injected flu vaccine is inactivated. As with any vaccine, there can be side effects—the most common ones are pain or tenderness at the injection site or a low-grade fever.
While washing hands is very important to keep illness at bay, it's not feasible to wash your hands 24/7, and we can't always identify who is sick versus who is healthy. Although vaccines are not 100% effective and their efficacy can vary from year to year, getting vaccinated is still your best option for avoiding illness from the flu.
Getting the flu shot takes less than ten minutes with a visit to the Allegra Family Clinic, and it offers protection for the entire flu season. Come by and get your flu shot by making an appointment online or by just walking in to be seen for a same-day appointment. With over 50 years of combined experience, our team has the knowledge and skills needed to administer your annual flu vaccine without any stress on your part. We look forward to taking care of you and your family at Allegra Family Clinic!
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