What is the flu?
Influenza (flu) is a potentially serious illness that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Each flu season is different, and infection with the flu virus can affect people in different ways, but millions of people get the flu each year, hundreds of thousands are hospitalized, and die from flu-related causes each year. The annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself against the flu.
Why is the flu vaccine important?
A flu vaccine is needed every season for two reasons. First, a person’s immune protection through vaccination decreases over time, so it is necessary to receive an annual vaccination for optimal protection. Second, because flu viruses are constantly changing, flu vaccines can be updated from one season to the next to provide protection against viruses that research suggests may be the most common during the next season. of influenza. For the best protection, everyone over 6 months should get vaccinated every year.
When should I get vaccinated?
You should get a flu vaccine before flu viruses begin to spread in your community, since it takes about two weeks for the body to generate antibodies and provide protection from the time you get the flu vaccine. Make plans to get vaccinated early in the fall, before flu season begins. CDC recommends that people get a flu shot before the end of October. However, getting vaccinated in advance (for example, in July or August) is often associated with less protection against influenza virus infection later in the flu season, especially among older adults.
COVID-19 and the Flu
Unfortunately, many people believe that if they get the flu, they cannot get COVID-19 or vice versa. Actually, the two diseases are caused by two different viruses and they have common and different symptoms, but both are serious and highly contagious. For this reason, it is important to get vaccinated against the flu, as you can get both COVID-19 and the flu.
Where can I get a flu shot?
Flu vaccines are offered in many doctor’s offices, clinics, health departments, pharmacies, and university health centers, as well as being provided by employers and even some schools.
Even if you don’t have a regular doctor or nurse, you can get the flu vaccine elsewhere, such as in a health department, pharmacy, urgent care clinic, and often at your school, nursing home. college or workplace health.
source: CDC
For more information:
CDC
Care Oregon
www.careoregon.org/members/getting-and-staying-healthy/flu
Oregon Flu Hotline: 800-978-3040