Thinking of skipping out on your flu vaccine this year? Think again.
Vaccines have been a big topic of conversation over the past few years. With all the chatter about the newest version of the Covid-19 vaccine, it might be easy to forget that there’s another one that’s also important: the flu vaccine. Who should get the flu vaccine, and why? What are the flu shot side effects and how effective is it? We’re investigating all of your questions to help you stay safe and healthy this season.
Do kids need to get the flu vaccine?
While the flu vaccine is recommended for all people over six months, one group has seen a concerning decline in vaccination rates over the past few years — children. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only about half of children in the U.S. were vaccinated last flu season.
If you’ve ever cared for a toddler, you know that they may come down with frequent coughs or colds. One kid in a preschool or elementary school gets sick, and germs can spread through the class like wildfire. Then your child brings the illness home, and soon, your entire house is sniffling.
Therefore, it’s not surprising that kids are big spreaders of the flu. The good news is that kids as young as six months old are eligible for the flu vaccine. While that might seem young, the CDC strongly recommends getting babies vaccinated, since young children are particularly vulnerable to the virus, and are more likely to experience serious complications.
Seniors are also at greater risk of more severe illness, so if you’re planning to visit your grandkids soon, it’s even more crucial that all your family members are vaccinated. As the fall and winter approach, and the likelihood of a flu outbreak gets higher and higher, it’s best to make sure you cover your bases as soon as possible.
What are the flu symptoms and how many people die from the flu?
For some, flu symptoms can escalate quickly and aggressively. Most of us know the symptoms, which include a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, and fever. In kids, the flu can be accompanied by nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration. In some cases, symptoms can even escalate to hospitalization and death — the last flu season saw 174 influenza-associated deaths of children 17 and younger.
Flu vaccine effectiveness
The most frustrating thing about the flu is that we have the tools to help prevent serious illnesses that can lead to complications, hospitalizations, and death. Getting vaccinated is the best way to ward off illness and minimize the risk of serious complications related to the flu. The vaccine is extensively tested and has been in use for more than 50 years, with hundreds of millions of Americans having received it. Those decades of use have allowed for ample evidence showing that the safety of the flu vaccine is well-established in children and adults.
Flu shot side effects
Like any vaccine, there’s a chance you might experience some side effects after getting the shot, including soreness or redness, headache, fever, nausea, or muscle aches. If you’ve ever had the flu, you’ll know that these possible side effects are a walk in the park compared to contracting the virus.
How long does the flu shot last?
If you got vaccinated last season, you might think you’re already covered. But viruses are smart, and they have a nasty tendency to mutate. Luckily, scientists have figured out how to address these mutations, and scientists update vaccines annually. In addition, immunity to one season’s flu declines over time, so it’s important to get vaccinated every year.
There’s no time like the present to schedule your vaccination and if you have any questions about children’s vaccinations, reach out to a pediatrician. The CDC recommends getting your flu shot between early September and the end of October for most people. If you can’t get it then, it can be still beneficial to get the shot as soon as you can while the flu virus is still circulating. Scheduling a vaccination is simple: Just ask your physician or even your pharmacist about making an appointment. Many pharmacies also offer walk-in appointments. Have more questions about the flu? Check out these additional articles, and learn where you can schedule a vaccination today.
