According to research, seasonal flu shots are meant to protect against influenza viruses, which are expected to be more common in the coming seasons. In the United States, all influenza vaccines are four-valued, which means they protect against four different influenza viruses: influenza A (H1N1), influenza A (H3N2), and two influenza B viruses. The seasonal flu is a common practice before the flu season, which runs around the world from September to October. The perfect time for a seasonal flu shot is fall, but you can’t get it until the end of April. Seasonal vaccination should be given to people over the age of 50 and children under the age of eight, as they are at high risk of infection.
Availability of seasonal influenza vaccines
Seasonal influenza vaccines are widely available in doctor’s offices, primary and urgent care clinics, health departments, university health centers, pharmacies, municipal health clinics, and through programs sponsored by local authorities. employers. You can get the seasonal flu shot in these places even if you don’t have a general practitioner or doctor.
People at high risk of seasonal influenza
The following people are at high risk of developing the flu and should get the seasonal flu shot as soon as possible:
Pregnant women
People over 50
Children under 5
Why is it important to take the seasonal flu shot?
The flu bacteria are very contagious and can be spread simply by coming into contact with infected people by coughing or sneezing. You can fight the flu by washing your hands frequently with soap and water and avoiding touching your mouth, nose and eyes with unwashed hands, as well as by taking the seasonal flu shot. . The seasonal flu shot is a safe and effective way to avoid the flu. The flu shot causes your body to make antibodies against different strains of the flu virus. These antibodies help protect your body against the flu, which in turn reduces the number of cases of infection.
The benefits of seasonal flu shots
Seasonal flu is a mild illness for many people. However, the flu can sometimes be severe and even fatal. Flu:
Associated with serious infections such as pneumonia.
May worsen existing health problems (for example, long-term heart or lung disease).
May result in hospitalization or death
As a result, seasonal flu shots are updated every year to match the three strains of the virus that research shows will be most common in the coming flu season. To stay safe, you need to receive seasonal flu shots every year. Taking the seasonal flu shot every year has the following benefits:
I flu prevention
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flu shot is the most useful way to avoid getting a flu infection.
ii less discomfort
Even if you have been vaccinated, you can still get the flu. If you have received the seasonal flu shot, your symptoms will be less severe if you also get sick.
iii reduction of the risk of hospitalization or complications in some people.
The flu shot has been shown to reduce flu-related complications or hospitalizations in people at high risk of getting the flu. These are:
Pregnant women
Child
Age
People with long-term illnesses such as diabetes, chronic lung disease, and heart disease.
- Community protection
When you protect yourself from the flu with the seasonal flu shot, you are also protecting others who are not eligible for the vaccine. This also applies to those who are too young to be vaccinated. This is called collective immunity and it is essential.
The CDC recommends getting the seasonal flu shot by the end of October, but you can also get the shot later in the season. Seasonal flu shots are available at many pharmacies, doctor’s offices, and emergency care clinics. When the flu shot is first given to children aged six months to eight years, two doses may be needed at least every four weeks. They can then receive one dose of influenza vaccine per year. There are many benefits to taking the flu shot because it prevents people from getting the flu, and if someone does, the symptoms are mild, which reduces the chance of hospitalization. It also prevents the community from contracting the disease through human-to-human transmission.
