The beginning of fall also marks the beginning of flu and cold season. What can you do to keep yourself and your family safe and healthy as children return back to school, the weather gets colder, and opportunities for fresh air and sunlight diminish? One of the easiest and most scientifically proven ways to protect yourself and those around you is getting vaccinated.
Vaccination is safe, simple, and effective in protecting you and your body against harmful disease before you come into contact with them. It is a prevention method that uses your body's natural defenses to build resistance against infection and make your immune system stronger.
Vaccines work by creating antibodies, just like your body naturally does when it fights infection. They do this by containing a killed or weakened form of a virus or bacteria, which triggers your body's immune system to respond. Vaccines are a safe way for your body to 'learn' how to fight an illness before you actually get sick.
One of the most common vaccines given annually is the Influenza (flu) vaccine. This vaccine protects against the most common flu strains for the upcoming flu seasons, and is updated every year. It is recommended that each person six months and older in the United States should get an influenza (flu) vaccine every year.
There are many reasons why you should get a flu vaccine. Here are just a few:
1. Flu vaccination prevents illness, medical visits,
hospitalizations, and deaths.
2. Flu vaccination has been shown to reduce severity of illness
for those that do get sick.
It is important to get a flu vaccine every year since flu viruses are constantly changing. Your protection from flu vaccines decreases over time, so even though you may have received a flu vaccine last year, it is recommended to get another one for the new flu season.
In addition to vaccination, keep yourself and your loved ones safe and healthy during flu season by: avoiding close contact with people who are sick, staying home when you are sick, covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, cleaning your hands, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
You can contact your doctor's office or local pharmacies, health departments and urgent care centers to see where and how to get your flu shot. Free and low-cost flu shots are often available at local public health departments or community clinics. For more information about flu shots, you can visit getmyflushot.org!
Sources:
https://getmyflushot.org/ Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board
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