With all of the anti-vaccine movements going on in the country right now, they might have you debating whether or not to get vaccinated this year. Especially with the flu season at our doorsteps, the window for making a decision about getting a flu shot is coming to a close real quick. In order to make an informed decision for yourself and for your family, you should really do your research. Researching a topic as hot as vaccines is very important so that you don’t base your decision only off of someone else’s opinion. Let’s face it, the internet is full of opinions and sometimes people make decisions without accurate information. We will answer some basic questions you might have about the flu vaccine and hopefully inform you about the health benefits and risks in getting a flu shot.
Does it work?
The biggest question people have about vaccines is “Do they really work?” The flu vaccine, like vaccines for other diseases, has a variable success rate in preventing the flu. The success rate according the the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is between 50 and 60 percent. Some of you might be thinking that that percentage isn’t very high. Compared to the effectiveness of vaccines for other diseases, yes it is low. However, to put things in perspective, there are hundreds, if not not thousands, of strains of the flu compared to Hepatitis, which has about 5 strains. The doctors and researchers who decide which strands go into the flu shot are basically making an educated guess based on data and trends. In other words, it’s really hard to create the perfect vaccine. So if you get the flu shot and you still catch the flu, you caught one of the thousands of strains that wasn’t in the flu shot you received.
How does it work?
Flu shots work the same way as other vaccines: you get injected with dead viruses so that your body’s immune system can find them and develop antibodies for those specific strains. It’s effective because if your body is exposed to one of the strains found in the shot you received, your body has already developed a strength against it and can quickly fight it off.
What are the side effects?
The side effects of the flu shot, as is the case of other vaccines, are very minimal, aren’t seen in every patient, and usually go away within a few days. The side effects include normal flu symptoms such as soreness, redness, and/or swelling from the shot, headache, fever, nausea, and muscle aches. Fainting has been observed on occasion, but it isn’t a very likely outcome. You can read more about flu vaccine safety information here.
Who should get it?
The CDC recommends that everybody over the age of 6 months get a flu shot every year. There are specific groups of people that are especially encouraged to get a flu shot every year. Those groups include those who have a high risk of having complications from the flu, namely the elderly over the age of 65, young children under the age of 5, pregnant women, residents of nursing homes, and those people who have weak immune systems.
There are some cases where getting a flu shot is not recommended. People who should not get a flu shot include children under the age of 6 months and people who have severe allergic reactions to substances found in flu shots, which include gelatin, antibiotics, and egg. People who should consult a doctor before getting a flu shot include those people who are already not feeling well, have allergies to eggs, and those who have had Guillain-Barré Syndrome (also called GBS). If you do not fall under any of these categories, then getting a flu shot is strongly recommended.
Need a flu shot?
Now that you have a basic understanding of flu shots and if you determine that this is what you and your family needs, come see us! Schedule a visit with our industry-leading doctors. They will listen to your concerns and will inform you enough so that you can make the best decision for your circumstances. Call us at 801-724-9840