“Being vaccinated now will ensure protection before the flu season starts in October; it’s not too early to get your shot”.
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Dr. John Treanor, Chief of Infectious Diseases at UR Medicine, said, as we age, our immune system is less aggressive, and this high dose vaccine stimulates a better response.
Why are flu shots so important?: Seasonal influenza can be serious and fatal. The number of flu cases will soon be increasing, so people should protect themselves and their families with flu shots now. Every year in February, the World Health Organization analyzes data gleaned from patients with suspected flu from more than 100 countries to decide which strains should be included in the following year’s vaccine.
While everyone over six months of age is encouraged to get a flu vaccine, it’s especially important for young children, the elderly and pregnant women to be vaccinated.
Medicare Part B or Medicaid are accepted by public health, and those that don’t have those plans can get their flu shots for just a $20 recommended donation.
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The CDC and the Indiana State Department of Health recommend annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older. “The CDC always comes in and makes new flu shot strains ever year”. Flu is always unpredictable, but when vaccines are well-matched in this way, they are generally about 50-60% effective. Last year was a tough flu season, because one of the year’s most common strain’s wasn’t in the vaccine. The strain that caused most of the illness previous year is incorporated into this season’s vaccine, and researchers expect it to be much more effective. Health department officials say that in order to keep the virus from rapidly spreading in the area, they’re offering free vaccinations for everyone. When used for treatment in someone who has been confirmed to have the flu, antiviral drugs can lessen symptoms and shorten the time of the illness by 1 or 2 days.
