Time for your Flu Shot
Have you protected yourself against flu? Your flu shot should keep you from getting influenza, as well as reduce the risk of your hospitalization for flu. It can even protect against the risk of flu-related death in vaccinated children.
About two weeks after your vaccination, your body creates antibodies against infection. Researchers indicate which viruses will be most common this season and make vaccines focused on them. The CDC recommends using any licensed, age-appropriate flu vaccine this year.
Because a vaccine can only protect you if you have developed antibodies before the flu viruses spread in your community, now is the best time for vaccination, especially if you need two doses as children may.
What about other respiratory viruses and your flu shot?
Flu vaccination does not increase the risk of infection with other respiratory viruses, including those that cause colds. Because the flu vaccine focuses on particular viruses identified each year (they might be different, year to year), you may still get flu. If you were exposed to a flu virus shortly before your vaccination, you could still get the flu. In addition, some older people and those with certain chronic illnesses may develop less immunity after vaccination. But, by and large, flu vaccination can keep you from getting sick with flu, and reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization.
In brief, your flu vaccination shot
- can reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization for children and adults
- is an important preventive tool for you, if you have chronic health conditions like heart disease, COPD, diabetes, and chronic lung disease
- helps protect women during and after pregnancy
- can be lifesaving in children
- reduces the severity of illness in people who get sick even after vaccination
- protects both you and the people around you
For a lot more information about Flu Vaccines, see this page from the CDC. You can get your flu vaccine at your local pharmacy.
Vedas is minutes from I-45 (Houston’s North Freeway) in The Woodlands. Call us at 281-298-5476 to make an appointment for your flu vaccine. We look forward to seeing you soon for your flu shot!
