Every year, a new flu season strikes, and every year, health experts urge people to get vaccinated. However, people often wonder if it’s necessary. The truth is that there are many reasons to protect yourself with a flu vaccine and essential information you should know. Here are the facts you’ll need to make an informed decision about the flu shot.
What Are the Benefits of Flu Vaccination?
If you’re on the fence about getting a flu shot, we’d love to share with you five great reasons to consider it.
- Avoid getting the flu
No one wants to get the flu, which is miserable even for healthy people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that getting the vaccine is the most effective thing you can do to prevent infection. It reduces your risk of getting sick with the flu by 50 to 60 percent.
- Experience fewer symptoms if you do get sick
Of course, there is always a chance that you will still get sick, even if you are immunized. If that happens, the vaccine still provides protection. You’re likely to have milder symptoms if you’ve been vaccinated.
- Avoid hospitalization and serious complications
Although many people recover from the flu without problem, there is always a risk that you could become seriously ill. Being vaccinated reduces the likelihood that you’ll get sick enough that you need to be hospitalized or experience serious complications.
- Reduce the risk to vulnerable people
For some people, getting the flu is extra dangerous. You probably know that elderly people and children under the age of two are more vulnerable to severe flu cases. But the list of people at risk includes groups you may not expect.
People who live with chronic illnesses should also be extra careful. This includes common conditions such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. According to the CDC, even certain minority racial and ethnic groups are at an increased risk, including Latinos and Hispanics.
Getting the flu vaccine provides extra protection for these vulnerable people.
- Protect your community
The CDC explains that people who catch the flu may be able to infect others a day before they develop symptoms. That means someone who doesn’t even feel sick could spread the virus to everyone they meet. If fewer people get sick, fewer people are exposed. We can all do our part to protect the people around us.
Do I Need to Get the Flu Vaccine Every Year?
Some vaccines can continue to protect you for years. However, the flu vaccine works best if you get a yearly shot. There are a couple of reasons for this.
First, research shows that the immunity you get from the vaccine decreases over time. It provides at least six months of strong protection before it starts to decrease.
On top of that, the flu virus is very good at mutating. Every year, experts work to predict these changes to identify the strains that will make the most people sick in the upcoming season. Getting a yearly flu shot gives you the best chance of having a robust immune response to the viruses you’ll be exposed to that year.
Occasionally, these predictions aren’t very accurate, and the vaccine isn’t the best match for that year’s flu strain. Even if this happens, your risk of catching the flu is lowered, and you’re still less likely to get seriously ill.
When Should I Get the Flu Shot?
To get the most protection from your vaccination, doctors recommend timing when you get it. The newest version is usually available starting in August, but it may be worthwhile to wait a while before you schedule your appointment.
The flu season usually doesn’t get going until sometime in mid-autumn, and it can continue into May. Considering that the immunity from the vaccine is strongest in the first six months, many doctors recommend getting it at the right time to give yourself the best immune response when the flu is most active. This means that the optimal time is in late September or October. But if you’ve missed this timeline, it isn’t too late! You can still protect yourself and your family by getting the shot as soon as possible.
Can My Family and I Get Flu Shots at Centro Médico Latino?
The flu vaccine offers multiple benefits to help keep you and your family healthy during the flu season. You can help protect the people you love and your community by getting vaccinated yearly at the right time.
Centro Médico Latino offers a wide range of medical services, including vaccinations. Our goal is to meet the needs of the uninsured and underinsured people in the community, especially the Latino population. If you’re interested in the flu vaccine or any other services we offer, please contact us today. We are here to work with you to keep you healthy and strong.
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