Flu season peaks between December and February, and can go on until May. Deciding to get your flu vaccine can sometimes seem like a difficult choice to make.
Today, your local McAllen pharmacists at Saenz Pharmacy are here to inform you of the benefits of the flu vaccine and what you should know about it.
Benefits of the Flu Vaccine
There are many benefits obtained from getting the flu vaccine every year. Some may seem like obvious reasons and others might not be the first things that come to your mind.
Some of the benefits include:
1. The flu vaccine can keep you from catching the flu.
One of the most beneficial reasons to get the flu vaccine is that it can prevent you from getting sick with the flu.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC,) during the 2019-2021 flu season, the flu vaccine prevented roughly 7.5 million influenza cases. Getting the flu vaccine has been proven to reduce having to visit the doctor with flu-related symptoms by 40% to 60%.
2. The flu vaccine can prevent flu-associated hospitalization.
During the 2019-2020 flu season, the flu vaccine prevented nearly 105,000 flu-related hospitalizations.
During the last flu season, 400,000 people were hospitalized with the flu, including 22,000 flu-related deaths. In a study done by the CDC, flu vaccination in adults lowered the chance of being taken to the ICU by 82%.
3. The flu vaccine can be lifesaving in children.
During the last flu season, the CDC reported that 188 children died from flu-related deaths. This number reminds us how serious the flu can be for children. A 2017 study found evidence that when a child receives the flu vaccine, it greatly minimizes their likelihood of dying from influenza.
4. The flu vaccine can protect you and those around you.
Getting the flu vaccine not only protects you from getting sick, but it also helps to protect those around you from getting ill as well.
By getting the flu vaccine you can protect those that are more vulnerable, such as babies, young children, the elderly, and those with chronic health issues.
Is the Flu Vaccine Safe?
The flu vaccine is perfectly safe and you cannot catch the flu from getting vaccinated. Most people have no side effects from getting the flu shot.
However, certain people that should not get the flu shot, including children who are less than six months old, people who have previously had a severe reaction to the flu vaccine, those with egg or milk allergies, and those with Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Types of Flu Vaccines
The flu vaccine can be distributed in two ways: as an injection or as a nasal spray. Before 2019, the nasal spray was not recommended in fear that it was not as effective as an injection.
In recent years the spray has been proven more effective and both are recommended for the current flu season. Talk to your doctor about which type is best for you.
When You Should Get the Flu Vaccine
It is recommended that you get the flu vaccine on a yearly basis for two reasons.
The first being that your body’s immune response to influenza decreases over time, and by receiving the flu vaccine each season, you are ensuring you have continued protection.
The second reason is that the virus is constantly changing and the virus types that were found in previous flu seasons may not be the ones in the upcoming flu season.
Getting the flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from the flu each year.
Don’t Hesitate to Vaccinate with Saenz Pharmacy
To get your flu vaccine, contact Saenz Pharmacy today to guarantee your protection during the flu season.
Our pharmacists will do our best to help keep you healthy and vaccinated while providing the best service possible.