Should you get the flu shot?
The common flu causes thousands of deaths each year. The flu shot has been tweaked from last year’s version but who needs to get it?
Flu season is upon us once again, and that means making a decision about whether to get this year’s vaccine. Experts say vaccination is the best, safest tool to protect ourselves and our loved ones, but there are some big changes this year— including the elimination of the nasal vaccine, or flu mist.
“The flu mist is just not as effecitve as we previously thought,” Dr. Priya Nori, infectious disease specialist with Montefiore Medical Group in the Bronx, New York, told FoxNews.com. “It’s not going to work for our kids.”
Health officials are now mounting a major campaign to get folks vaccinated as soon as possilbe.
The flu is different from other infectious disease as it affects both healthy and weaker immune systems. If you haven’t gotten the vaccine and want to avoid getting sick, you can still take a few steps to minimize your chances of becoming infected.
“If you observe that sombody near you is coughing, sneezing, sweating, looks like they could have either the flu or even any other respiratory virus like the common cold, I would turn my back, get out my hand sanitizer and quickly wash my hands,” Nori said.
The virus changes every year and easily spreads from person to person, making it difficult to fully eradicate. Experts say it’s unlikely the annual flu threat will go away anytime soon, but the vaccine is constantly being tweaked and improved, offering more protection each year.
“We have to constantly remind people that another potentially devastating flu season is right around the corner,” Nori said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the flu vaccine for all adults and children older than 6 months. Check with your doctor to find out which flu shot is right for you.
Stay up-to-date on the biggest health and wellness news with our weekly recap.