Top 10 Reasons To Get The Flu Vaccine

The flu season is upon us – so do the best thing you can do to protect yourself by getting the annual flu shot.

With the start of the fall season, many people think of changing leaves, pumpkins, and candy corn, but there is also another season beginning - Flu season, which typically begins in October and ends as late as May. The exact timing and severity of the annual flu season changes every year, however, the number of hospitalizations due to influenza infections usually peak between December and February. The best way to protect yourself from becoming part of these statistics is getting your annual flu shot in October. Here are the Top Ten reasons to get the flu shot so you can continue to enjoy pumpkin lattes sans the shot of NyQuil….

1. Having the flu is miserable.

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2. The flu causes an average of 30,000 deaths every year in the United States and over 200,000 hospitalizations

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It’s not like a ‘little cold’ – it’s a serious infection!

3. Antibiotics do not work on the flu.

The flu is caused by a virus (influenza) and cannot be treated with antibiotics, which only work on bacteria.

4. Antiviral drugs, like Tamiflu, are only effective if taken within 48 hours after experiencing flu-like symptoms

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...and they require a prescription!

5. Getting the flu is expensive

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The average cost for treating the infection for a person with health insurance is $130, not to mention missed wages for time off work (and the vaccine is covered by most health insurance plans...that means you don't pay anything!!).

6. The flu virus can live on surfaces for up to 2-3 days.

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So you never know where, who, or what might infect you. If you don't get the vaccine, at least wash your hands before touching your face...or picking your nose.

7. The flu vaccine can protect you against 3 or 4 different flu strains

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...depending on whether you get the trivalent or quadrivalent vaccine.

8. The vaccine can provide life-long immunity.

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The flu strains picked for the vaccine are scientists’ best guess at what will be circulating this season so some years the vaccine is more effective than others – however, in all cases, the vaccine can provide life-long immunity should any of those strains start to recirculate again. Even last year’s vaccine, which was shown to not be very effective, was still associated with reduced symptoms in those people that did end up getting the flu.

9. Saying you’re afraid of needles is no excuse anymore.

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There are needle-free versions of the vaccine: there is a nasal spray vaccine (FluMist) and new this year, a needleless injector (Afluria)

10. You cannot catch the flu from the flu vaccine.

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The injected vaccines are only made from pieces of the virus and the inhaled vaccine is has been genetically altered to only live inside your nose (pretty neat, huh?!). You may feel a little sore or under the weather after getting the vaccine, but that is usually a good indication that your immune system is responding as it should.