Flu facts: how to protect yourself and your family
Victor Acquista, MD
By Victor Acquista, MD
Director Pathways Integral Health & Wellness, LLC; Author Pathways to Health: An Integral Guidebook
Special to PRIME
Influenza is the virus that causes the "flu". Actually, influenza is not a single virus so much as a family of slightly different strains, which we refer to as Influenza.
It's the subtle differences among these slightly different viruses that make it necessary to get a flu shot every year. Because in any given year, different strains of the Influenza virus circulate throughout the world, we need to get vaccinated every year and develop immunity to help prevent ourselves from getting the flu. In the United States, the typical flu season is from October to March.
It takes up to two weeks after receiving the flu shot for the body to develop antibodies, so now is the time to get your vaccination.
Why get vaccinated?
Influenza can be a serious illness, even fatal. Vaccination is especially important for individuals more likely to develop serious illness. This includes young children, people with certain chronic diseases such as heart, lung and kidney disease, and individuals with a weakened immune system, people 65 and older, and pregnant women.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends flu vaccination for all people 6 months of age and older.
Flu vaccine myths
There are three major arguments individuals present as reasons not to get the flu shot. Typically, those excuses are:
1. The flu shot can cause the flu. This is false. Every year I hear this from individuals as an excuse not to get immunized.
There are many germs in our environment which cause symptoms such as a runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever, and headache. Many of these germs are viruses.
If you contract an illness from any of these other germs shortly after receiving a flu shot, it's easy to believe that the shot caused you to get sick.
Some people do develop a reaction to the shot. The most common reaction is soreness at the injection site Other common side effects are body aches and fever. However, these usually subside in one-to-two days.
2. Some people feel that because they have never had the flu, they don't need a shot. Statistics show, however, that every year, about 20 percent of the population catches the flu. Not having contracted influenza in the past does not mean you are protected.
3. Getting a flu shot guarantees you will not get the flu. This belief is also false. Because the strains in the flu vaccine do not always match the circulating strains for a given flu season, and because individuals do not always develop a strong immune response to being vaccinated, it is possible to get influenza even though you have received a flu shot.
However, being vaccinated is one of the best ways to protect yourself. Good hand washing, practicing cough etiquette, not smoking, and taking good care of yourself are other ways to help prevent influenza.
Good reasons to get vaccinated
You can help prevent influenza in yourself, your family, and your co-workers by getting vaccinated. Influenza can be more serious than you think.
Not getting sick in the past does not protect you.
The flu vaccine is generally safe and effective. Flu shots are widely available throughout the community at your health provider's office, many senior centers, pharmacies, and health clinics. The shot is generally safe and effective.
For more information on the flue and flu vaccinations, visit the CDC's website at www.cdc.gov/flu
Victor Acquista MD is author of "Pathways To Health: An Integral Guidebook" and a partner in Pathways Integral Health in Palmer. For more information on Acquista's book, visit
http://pathstohealth.info/
