I Never Get The Flu, So Why Do I Need A Flu Shot?
7 years, 4 months ago

I Never Get The Flu, So Why Do I Need A Flu Shot?

Huff Post  

Brian S. Koll, MD Recently retired as Executive Medical Director for Infection Prevention and Control, Mount Sinai Health System The seasonal flu is a contagious illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the respiratory tract. But flu viruses mutate every year, so even if you did not get last season’s virus, you may still succumb to this season’s. Anyone who is 6 months of age or older should be vaccinated, especially those at high risk of complications from flu, such as young children, older people, pregnant women, people with a chronic illness like diabetes or heart disease, and those with weakened immune systems due to disease or medication like chemotherapy. You need to get a flu shot every flu season, because the vaccine is updated each year. It is impossible to catch the flu from a flu shot because vaccines are made either from dead influenza virus or are cell-based, meaning they just contain some genetic material, not the whole virus.

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History of this topic

Here's Exactly How Long It Takes To Get Sick After Being Exposed To The Flu
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Here's Exactly How Long It Takes To Get Sick After Being Exposed To The Flu

Huff Post  

Ika84 via Getty Images The body aches, fever and tiredness that the flu causes come on one to four days after being exposed to the virus. The typical flu incubation period, which is the time it takes from being exposed to a virus to coming down with symptoms, is “somewhere between one and four days,” Thielen said. “Symptoms can occur …

Chennai, Mumbai on high alert for flu: What you need to know
4 months ago

Chennai, Mumbai on high alert for flu: What you need to know

New Indian Express  

Flu season in India typically occurs during the monsoon and post-monsoon months, as the increased humidity following cooler weather creates an environment conducive to the spread of viruses. Types of flu found in India In India, several strains of the flu or influenza virus are commonly found, particularly during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Influenza B Influenza B viruses are …

Revealed: The common medications that make your flu shot less effective
4 months, 1 week ago

Revealed: The common medications that make your flu shot less effective

Daily Mail  

Everyone is asked to get the flu shot every year to slash their risk of infection and hospitalization. While the flu shot is widely recommended, doctors are advising people to be careful about the medications they use before or after they get vaccinated because some drugs could decrease the vaccine's efficacy. There are more than 295 drugs that can interact …

Why flu vaccines are needed before summer ends and rainy season begins?
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Why flu vaccines are needed before summer ends and rainy season begins?

Hindustan Times  

As the flu season approaches, experts are advocating annual Influenza vaccination for all children aged 6 months to 5 years of age as it is a known fact that the symptoms of influenza virus and Covid-19 tend to mimic each other, leading to fear and anxiety among parents of young children. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Anish Pillai, …

Why Does Everyone Seem To Have The Flu Right Now?
1 year, 1 month ago

Why Does Everyone Seem To Have The Flu Right Now?

Huff Post  

visualspace via Getty Images Influenza cases are definitely more prominent this year, and experts have a few theories. “That is a large impact from this season,” noted Alicia Budd, the CDC’s team lead for domestic flu surveillance. Though it’s tough to pinpoint any single reason for this season’s bustling flu activity, flu experts shed light here on what’s going on …

This Is The Best Time To Get Your Flu Shot This Year
1 year, 6 months ago

This Is The Best Time To Get Your Flu Shot This Year

Huff Post  

VioletaStoimenova via Getty Images It's officially flu season. The flu kills tens of thousands of people every year ― the CDC noted that it has caused “12,000-52,000 deaths annually between 2010 and 2020.” Below, vaccine experts share when to get your flu shot this year and why it’s important to get the jab. “People, unfortunately, gotten used to saying it’s …

When is the best time to get a flu shot? And what kind should I get?
1 year, 6 months ago

When is the best time to get a flu shot? And what kind should I get?

LA Times  

Flu season is just around the corner, and the time is fast approaching for residents to consider getting their annual vaccine. Here’s a primer on flu shots, based on information shared by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: When is the best time to get a flu shot? Health officials suggest that those age 65 and older get …

Getting A Flu Shot May Lower Your Risk Of Stroke, Study Finds
2 years, 6 months ago

Getting A Flu Shot May Lower Your Risk Of Stroke, Study Finds

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING There may be a major perk to getting your flu shot that spans beyond virus protection, according to a new observational study published in the American Academy of Neurology journal. Approximately 41.4% of people who had a stroke during the study’s time period got their flu shot compared to 40.5% of people who had not had a …

Flu Shot Linked To Lower Risk Of Stroke, Says Study
2 years, 6 months ago

Flu Shot Linked To Lower Risk Of Stroke, Says Study

News 18  

According to a study, getting an annual flu shot may be linked to a lower risk of stroke. “Studies have shown that getting the flu increases your risk of having a stroke, but research is still being collected on whether getting the flu vaccine can help protect against a stroke," said study author Francisco J. de Abajo, MD, MPH, PhD, …

The Best Time To Get Your 2022 Flu Shot, According To A Vaccine Expert
2 years, 7 months ago

The Best Time To Get Your 2022 Flu Shot, According To A Vaccine Expert

Huff Post  

VioletaStoimenova via Getty Images It's officially flu season. The flu kills tens of thousands of people every year ― the CDC noted that it has caused “12,000-52,000 deaths annually between 2010 and 2020.” Below, a vaccine expert shares when to get your flu shot this year and why it’s important to get the jab. “I tell people, ‘don’t necessarily get …

It’s flu vaccine time, even if you’ve had your COVID shots
3 years, 5 months ago

It’s flu vaccine time, even if you’ve had your COVID shots

Associated Press  

Amid all the focus on COVID-19 vaccinations, U.S. health experts have another plea: Don’t skip your flu shot. “People are sick to death of hearing about having to roll on out and get vaccines of any sort,” said flu specialist Richard Webby of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. Flu vaccines aren’t as powerful as vaccines against some other …

It’s flu vaccine time, even if you’ve had your COVID shots
3 years, 5 months ago

It’s flu vaccine time, even if you’ve had your COVID shots

LA Times  

A patient receives a flu shot in Mesquite, Texas. “People are sick to death of hearing about having to roll on out and get vaccines of any sort,” said flu specialist Richard Webby of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. COVID-19 restrictions including masking and staying home — especially for children, who are flu’s biggest spreaders — clearly …

To fight Covid-19 and flu, joint vaccine clinics emerge
3 years, 6 months ago

To fight Covid-19 and flu, joint vaccine clinics emerge

CNN  

CNN — They’re a fall staple in most communities across the United States: flu shot clinics. “There has been an expectation that the flu would be worse this year than in year’s past, however our county is at a critical stage with COVID-19 transmission rates being at record levels, so that has been our main focus, in preventing outbreaks and …

Here are the key reasons to get a flu shot — now
3 years, 6 months ago

Here are the key reasons to get a flu shot — now

NPR  

Here are the key reasons to get a flu shot — now Enlarge this image Cristina Spanò for NPR Cristina Spanò for NPR With all the talk about COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, it's easy to forget that another dangerous respiratory virus is poised to strike — the flu. "While the most important thing is to get any flu shot, there …

Flu shot: This season’s offers ‘substantial protection’ in a season tough on children
5 years, 1 month ago

Flu shot: This season’s offers ‘substantial protection’ in a season tough on children

CNN  

CNN — The flu season is still in full swing and it’s likely to continue for several more weeks, and if you haven’t gotten a flu shot yet, you should, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccine doesn’t offer perfect protection – it never does – but a new CDC report says it has significantly …

Do I need a flu shot?
5 years, 3 months ago

Do I need a flu shot?

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez is a primary care pediatrician and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. “Your child is due for the flu vaccine today” is interrupted by, “Oh, no, doctor – we don’t like to put unnecessary things in their body.” The argument comes from parents who vaccinated their children against the flu at …

Here's Why You Really Need A Flu Shot
5 years, 3 months ago

Here's Why You Really Need A Flu Shot

NPR  

Here's Why You Really Need A Flu Shot Enlarge this image toggle caption SDI Productions/Getty Images SDI Productions/Getty Images Thanksgiving leftovers are a distant memory, and December's extra travel, shopping and family commitments are already straining nerves, budgets and immune systems. "Giving influenza vaccine to people with heart disease, for example, is as important as giving them a statin," Schaffner …

All you need to know about the flu shot
5 years, 4 months ago

All you need to know about the flu shot

Firstpost  

Here is a primer on some of the most common types of flu vaccines along with some of the key facts about this year’s flu shots. Well, experts say that the influenza virus — the microorganisms that cause the flu — is smart and keeps on changing its genetic material every year. If a child — between two and eight …

This Is Your Body On The Flu
5 years, 4 months ago

This Is Your Body On The Flu

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING ’Tis the season for turkey trots, Black Friday sales and fighting over the last piece of pumpkin pie. They may have wiped their nose and then touched their hands before putting it on a surface or may have sneezed on the surface.” Your eyes and ears may be access sites as well, but Adalja said these are …

Flu shot more likely to save your life than not getting it, says influenza researcher
5 years, 7 months ago

Flu shot more likely to save your life than not getting it, says influenza researcher

ABC  

A flu expert says getting vaccinated against the infectious disease is more likely to save your life than without it, yet only around 30-40 per cent of people are taking up the shot. Key points: A Griffith University professor says only 30-40 per cent of people get vaccinated against influenza Professor Paul Van Buynder says the vaccine is only 60 …

Does a simple flu need a vaccination ? Absolutely YES!
5 years, 9 months ago

Does a simple flu need a vaccination ? Absolutely YES!

Firstpost  

Say the word ‘Flu’ and people respond with a simple head nod or shrug, with the immense assurance that all will be well soon. For pregnant women, children under 5, the elderly, those with chronic medical conditions, and healthcare workers, the flu is more severe and can result in hospitalisation or death. There are various strains that cause influenza: Type …

Op-Ed: Save a grandma. Get your flu shot
6 years, 4 months ago

Op-Ed: Save a grandma. Get your flu shot

LA Times  

A natural disaster is bearing down on our country, one assured to take the lives of thousands and hospitalize tens of thousands more: the annual flu epidemic. But getting a flu shot also does something else: It helps protect the people around you who are most vulnerable to serious flu illness, particularly the very old and the very young. Most …

Will Getting The Flu Shot Actually Make You Sick?
6 years, 5 months ago

Will Getting The Flu Shot Actually Make You Sick?

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Let us give it to you straight: Yes, you should probably get that flu shot you’ve been putting off. “Getting a flu shot is one of the most important things that we can do to protect ourselves and those around us,” said Deborah Yokoe, a professor of clinical medicine and medical director of the University of California, …

Think You Don't Need A Flu Shot? Here Are 5 Reasons To Change Your Mind
6 years, 5 months ago

Think You Don't Need A Flu Shot? Here Are 5 Reasons To Change Your Mind

NPR  

Think You Don't Need A Flu Shot? "Flu vaccinations save lives," Surgeon General Jerome Adams told the crowd at an event to kick off flu vaccine awareness last week at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. "That's why it's so important for everyone 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine every year." YouTube "We have long known …

Flu vaccine 2018: Do you need it and when should you get it?
6 years, 11 months ago

Flu vaccine 2018: Do you need it and when should you get it?

ABC  

It's nearly time to roll up your sleeve, brace yourself for a small prick, and hope the nurse or doctor offers you a lollypop for your troubles. This includes: Pregnant women People aged 65 years and older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged six months to five years Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and older …

No, it’s not too late to get a flu shot
7 years, 2 months ago

No, it’s not too late to get a flu shot

LA Times  

Is it too late to get a flu shot? The good news, according to health experts, is that it’s not too late to reduce your risk by getting a flu shot. The FluMist nasal vaccine offered in the past has not been very effective against H1N1 strains in recent years, so the CDC says it “should not be used.” You …

Flu season: Why you might get sick even if you've been vaccinated
7 years, 9 months ago

Flu season: Why you might get sick even if you've been vaccinated

ABC  

The man in this photo looks appalling: a middle-aged male suffering, all tucked up in his chair-bed ready to moan the day away. "It's based on what strains have been circulating over the past few years in the Northern or Southern hemisphere, each one is guided by what's been happening in the other," Professor Stocks said. Influenza rates in SA …

Flu vaccine won't make you completely immune, but it's more important than you think
7 years, 11 months ago

Flu vaccine won't make you completely immune, but it's more important than you think

ABC  

As we head towards a southern hemisphere winter, many people are wondering if it's worth getting the flu vaccine. The Australian Government recommends everyone from six months old be vaccinated, with those in the following higher-risk categories eligible for a free shot in 2017: people aged 65 years and over; Aboriginal and Torres Strait people aged six months to less …

Local authorities advise against skipping flu shot
8 years, 4 months ago

Local authorities advise against skipping flu shot

Associated Press  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises against choosing the nasal spray flu vaccination option for the 2016-17 flu season. “This year the CDC recommends people receive the flu vaccine through injection and not the nasal spray,” Martha Marquez, Harris County Public Health media specialist, said. Whether a person requires two half-doses, a trivalent or a quadrivalent vaccine, Phillips …

Why you can get the flu even if you’ve had a flu shot
9 years, 2 months ago

Why you can get the flu even if you’ve had a flu shot

CNN  

Story highlights There have been fewer cases of flu so far this season Flu strains detected to date are similar to the ones in the flu shot Doctors say anyone who has not had a flu shot should still get one CNN — Have you noticed something missing from the news headlines this winter? "Because the Earth's surface is closer …

32 Myths About The Flu Vaccine You Don't Need To Fear
10 years, 5 months ago

32 Myths About The Flu Vaccine You Don't Need To Fear

NPR  

32 Myths About The Flu Vaccine You Don't Need To Fear Enlarge this image toggle caption Aaron M. Sprecher/AP Images for National Council on Aging and Sanofi Pasteur Aaron M. Sprecher/AP Images for National Council on Aging and Sanofi Pasteur Brace yourselves: Flu season is coming. Fact: You need a new flu shot each year because the circulating strains change …

32 Myths About The Flu Vaccine You Don't Need To Fear
10 years, 5 months ago

32 Myths About The Flu Vaccine You Don't Need To Fear

NPR  

32 Myths About The Flu Vaccine You Don't Need To Fear Enlarge this image toggle caption Aaron M. Sprecher/AP Images for National Council on Aging and Sanofi Pasteur Aaron M. Sprecher/AP Images for National Council on Aging and Sanofi Pasteur Brace yourselves: Flu season is coming. Fact: You need a new flu shot each year because the circulating strains change …

What to do if you have the flu
12 years, 2 months ago

What to do if you have the flu

CNN  

Story highlights Most patients don't need to go to emergency room, doctor says Temperature of 103 degrees Fahrenheit is normal for flu Taken early on, antiviral medications can ease symptoms Seek treatment if vomiting and sweating are excessive, doctor says You feel worse by the hour. Most flu patients should not go to an emergency room, said Dr. David Zich, …

Early Flu Season Hits Hard
12 years, 2 months ago

Early Flu Season Hits Hard

ABC News  

The flu is back and with a vengeance. Hitting the U.S. unusually early and hard this year, the flu season has officially arrived and it won't be departing any time soon. If you're young and healthy, the flu may just make you feel lousy for a week or two, miss some work, and spread the infection to some of your …

Still Time for a Flu Shot
12 years, 3 months ago

Still Time for a Flu Shot

ABC News  

It's official: flu season is here. "This year's vaccine appears to be right on target with the circulating virus," said Dr. William Schaffner, chair of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. "Treat it as a holiday gift to yourself and everyone around you. "We're seeing the beginning of the uptick start at least a month before …

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