When it comes to yearly vaccines, flu shots are a must for a wide range of people. There are a few specific reasons that flu shots are so crucial and knowing why you should get a flu shot may help you to make your decision. Knowing just why flu shots are important, how they can help you, and where you can get them is just the beginning of making it through this flu season without catching the flu.
Antigen Mutations
Each year the pathogens that cause the flu mutate, change, and evolve which subsequently makes last year’s vaccine useless. Each year when the flu virus dies down and goes dormant during the winter months it changes and grows, the germs that previously caused the flu are now stronger and more resilient than they were when they went dormant. These new, bugs are resistant to the older strain of the flu vaccine which means even if you had the vaccine in previous years, it will not be able to fight off the new strain of the flu.
This phenomena is called the "drift and shift" antigen theory. Each year the strain that causes the flu in each region drifts and shifts into a new form of the flu making it nearly impossible to fight it with older vaccines. Having a new flu shot each season can help you to prevent the flu and help to keep you healthy during this time.
Who Is At Risk?
Antigen Mutations
Each year the pathogens that cause the flu mutate, change, and evolve which subsequently makes last year’s vaccine useless. Each year when the flu virus dies down and goes dormant during the winter months it changes and grows, the germs that previously caused the flu are now stronger and more resilient than they were when they went dormant. These new, bugs are resistant to the older strain of the flu vaccine which means even if you had the vaccine in previous years, it will not be able to fight off the new strain of the flu.
This phenomena is called the "drift and shift" antigen theory. Each year the strain that causes the flu in each region drifts and shifts into a new form of the flu making it nearly impossible to fight it with older vaccines. Having a new flu shot each season can help you to prevent the flu and help to keep you healthy during this time.
Who Is At Risk?
While anyone can get the flu, there are some groups that are more at risk than others during flu season. Pregnant women, elderly individuals, and children are more likely to have serious health risks associated with the flu. It is important that if you are pregnant you talk with your doctor and discuss what options you have for a flu shot. There are live strain flu shots that are less hazardous to developing fetuses that can be given to pregnant women to help prevent the flu which can cause enormous damage to the developing fetus.
Elderly individuals are also very susceptible to the flu and to adverse effects from the flu. It is especially dangerous for older individuals to contract the flu as their immune systems are already beginning to weaken. The flu is a dangerous illness when not treated correctly, in some cases it can cause dehydration and even death. Children are similarly susceptible to the flu as they have naturally weaker immune systems as compared to adults. It is important that each season these special groups seek out a flu shot and that they are protected from the flu.
Flu Vaccine Shots and Insurance
Each year your insurance company will provide a credit or pay a portion of your flu shot cost so that you can get a flu shot. Most insurance companies will pay all or most of the bill for a flu shot at either your doctor’s office or at an approved pharmacy or vaccination site. Flu shots are relatively inexpensive, even if you do not have insurance that covers the cost. For about $30 you can prevent the flu with a shot and prevent the pain and discomfort that comes with the flu.
Due to the popularity of the flu shot and the necessity of it, many companies and workplaces will offer a free vaccination clinic each year to employees. Many universities also offer a free flu shot to prevent the spread of this illness that can cause intense discomfort. The flu is something that can be prevented and this is why you should opt for a shot each year.
Many advancements have made in terms of the administration of flu vaccines. We have seen flu vaccines go from large needles to small intradermal needles to flu nasal sprays. In the near future, you may also have the option of getting a new flu patch vaccine, which could be administered in the comfort of your own home.
Can the Flu Shot Give Me the Flu?
Many people decide to opt out of the shot for fear that it can cause the flu. This, however, is not the case. The flu vaccine does not contain any live strains of the flu, except for a few presentations or variations of the vaccine that are used on special groups because they are less harsh or easier to administer. The flu shot does not have actual live flu cultures in it, it is an attenuated or killed virus in the vaccine, the likelihood that it will cause the flu is very minimal.
In most cases, the drowsiness, ill feeling, vomiting, and other issues that come after the flu shot are simply side effects of the vaccine or simply immune responses to new foreign antigens in your body and they will dissipate within a day or two as opposed to actual influenza disease that can be very painful & discomforting and usually for about a week. Flu shots have been proven to be very effective when it comes to fighting the flu and research has proven that you will not contract the flu from getting a flu vaccine shot.
Flu shots help to fight against the changing flu virus each year and can help protect those that are at an increased risk of infection due to decreased immune systems. Flu shots are often free or very low cost and can be found at many different locations. Fighting flu is up to you! If it can help prevent flu and is also covered by insurance, why would one not get a flu vaccine every year?
Elderly individuals are also very susceptible to the flu and to adverse effects from the flu. It is especially dangerous for older individuals to contract the flu as their immune systems are already beginning to weaken. The flu is a dangerous illness when not treated correctly, in some cases it can cause dehydration and even death. Children are similarly susceptible to the flu as they have naturally weaker immune systems as compared to adults. It is important that each season these special groups seek out a flu shot and that they are protected from the flu.
Flu Vaccine Shots and Insurance
Each year your insurance company will provide a credit or pay a portion of your flu shot cost so that you can get a flu shot. Most insurance companies will pay all or most of the bill for a flu shot at either your doctor’s office or at an approved pharmacy or vaccination site. Flu shots are relatively inexpensive, even if you do not have insurance that covers the cost. For about $30 you can prevent the flu with a shot and prevent the pain and discomfort that comes with the flu.
Due to the popularity of the flu shot and the necessity of it, many companies and workplaces will offer a free vaccination clinic each year to employees. Many universities also offer a free flu shot to prevent the spread of this illness that can cause intense discomfort. The flu is something that can be prevented and this is why you should opt for a shot each year.
Many advancements have made in terms of the administration of flu vaccines. We have seen flu vaccines go from large needles to small intradermal needles to flu nasal sprays. In the near future, you may also have the option of getting a new flu patch vaccine, which could be administered in the comfort of your own home.
Can the Flu Shot Give Me the Flu?
Many people decide to opt out of the shot for fear that it can cause the flu. This, however, is not the case. The flu vaccine does not contain any live strains of the flu, except for a few presentations or variations of the vaccine that are used on special groups because they are less harsh or easier to administer. The flu shot does not have actual live flu cultures in it, it is an attenuated or killed virus in the vaccine, the likelihood that it will cause the flu is very minimal.
In most cases, the drowsiness, ill feeling, vomiting, and other issues that come after the flu shot are simply side effects of the vaccine or simply immune responses to new foreign antigens in your body and they will dissipate within a day or two as opposed to actual influenza disease that can be very painful & discomforting and usually for about a week. Flu shots have been proven to be very effective when it comes to fighting the flu and research has proven that you will not contract the flu from getting a flu vaccine shot.
Flu shots help to fight against the changing flu virus each year and can help protect those that are at an increased risk of infection due to decreased immune systems. Flu shots are often free or very low cost and can be found at many different locations. Fighting flu is up to you! If it can help prevent flu and is also covered by insurance, why would one not get a flu vaccine every year?
Author Bio: Jeff Shjarback, MBA is a Digital Marketing Strategy Consultant that has worked as a Vaccine Specialist and Biological Products Specialist. Jeff enjoys blogging about internet marketing, small business, lead generation, economics, innovation & emerging technology, future trend analysis and business philosophy. Jeff is one of the main contributors to the FluPatch.org blog. To learn more about Jeff, you can visit his Google Author Profile.
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