By: Hanna Stock
Flu, influenza, the stomach bug. No matter what you call it, anyone can get the flu, in fact over 35 million Americans do every year.
Misery in the form of a fever, body aches, coughing and fatigue. Most will fully recover in a week or two, but some can develop life-threatening complications like pneumonia.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that last year, there were 37 million to 43 million flu illnesses in the U.S., and 36,400 to 61,200 flu-related deaths. Last year’s flu season ran from Oct. 1 2018, to May 4.
Doctors say people should get the flu vaccine now and certainly before Thanksgiving.
“The concern with delaying it is that some people who might have the opportunity to get vaccinated now may not have that opportunity later,” said Dr. Robert Atmar, a professor of medicine and an infectious disease expert at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
“The most important thing is for people to get their flu vaccine, and get it before the epidemic starts,” he said.
Most healthy people who get the shot in September can expect some protection through the spring. But older adults may want to schedule their vaccination for some time in October.
Most people like to say, “I never get a flu shot and I don’t ever get the flu.”
The thing is, Flu vaccines have helped to make flu epidemics much less serious. They work about 70% to 90% of the time in healthy adults, either preventing the flu or making symptoms less severe. In elderly or chronically ill people, the flu vaccine may be less effective in preventing illness than it is in preventing serious complications and death. Since flu viruses change form every year, new vaccines are produced to combat whatever strains are anticipated.
You can’t just look at getting the flu shot to help prevent yourself from getting and spreading the virus, but to protect those around you that are more vulnerable to catching it.
People who are at the highest risk for experiencing complications include, people who are 65 years old or older (although some medical professionals quote 50 as the target age) even if they’re active and in excellent health. Flu is the fifth leading cause of death among the elderly. People with chronic health problems like diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, or lung conditions or suffer from weakened immune systems. Women who are pregnant or plan to be during flu season. Children between six months and 5-years-old, with an emphasis on children under two. They are as likely to be hospitalized for flu as people over age 65.
Flu activity usually picks up in, October and November, peaks around February, and can last well into the spring months. The CDC recommends everyone over the age of six months be vaccinated against the flu, especially expectant mothers. It takes about two weeks to build immunity to influenza after getting the vaccine.
There is plenty of evidence that the vaccine can ease the severity of the flu if you do get sick. Doctors say people who get the vaccine generally don’t feel as sick if they do wind up with the flu, and they’re less likely to develop complications of the virus, including pneumonia and death.
Flu season is here, and it should be everyone’s priority to protect not only yourself, but to also not be a carrier of the virus and spread it to those who are most vulnerable.
