A flu vaccine is the ultimate strategy to help defend against the flu. There’s multiple benefits of flu vaccination. It has been demonstrated that vaccination provides a range of advantages, such as reducing the likelihood of flu-related hospitalisation, infections, and even child fatalities. While some individuals who receive the flu vaccine may still become ill, it has been demonstrated in several trials that receiving the vaccine lessens the severity of the disease.
The flu is a potentially dangerous condition that can result in hospitalisation and even death. Every flu season is distinct, and influenza affects people differently, yet millions of individuals suffer the flu each year, hundreds or even thousands are hospitalised, and many people die due to flu-related conditions.
Flu symptoms can range from a few days of being sick and missing work to a more serious disease. Complications of the flu often include sinus infections, ear infections, bacterial pneumonia, and intensifying chronic health conditions, such as asthma, congestive heart failure, or diabetes.
Who can get the flu vaccine?
Some people are more susceptible to the side effects of the flu thus they should receive the benefits of flu vaccination. You run a higher risk if you:
- are at least 50 years old, even though you feel healthy and fit
- are pregnant
- live in a nursing or residential home.
- have a disorder or underlying medical condition (including infants and toddlers younger than six months).
Who should not get the flu vaccine?
Almost all may get the benefits of flu vaccination as it is safe for most adults; however, you should avoid it if you have experienced a strong allergic response to a flu vaccine previously.
If you are allergic to eggs, you may experience an adverse reaction to the flu vaccine administration. This is due to the use of eggs in the production of some flu vaccines. Consult a pharmacist or doctor about an egg-free or low-egg vaccine.
If you have a high fever, you should avoid getting the flu vaccine until you feel better.
The benefits of Flu vaccination
A flu vaccine can save your life.
Approximately 200,000 people are admitted to hospitals each year due to the flu. The flu can lead to severe complications, such as worsening of chronic conditions, dehydration, ear infections, sinus infections, and bacterial pneumonia, which may necessitate hospitalisation.
In fact, severe instances of influenza can result in death.
The flu vaccine empowers herd immunity.
Herd immunity is a term used to describe the effect that vaccinations have on a population. If we all get vaccines, we will not be responsible for spreading the virus, and thus we will all be safe.
The flu vaccine changes every year.
Before every flu season, it is evaluated which influenza viruses appear to be the most probable to develop that year. The vaccine can still minimise your possibility of getting some strains of the virus, and if you do become sick, it will considerably reduce the intensity of your symptoms.
One every year is sufficient.
Unfortunately, the flu vaccination you received last year will not protect you from the highly anticipated flu season. This is due to the fact that each new flu and cold season brings with it a new strain of the virus.
Reasons to get a flu vaccine every year:
- Every season, new viruses appear.
- Your immunity weakens over time.
Getting a new vaccine dose each season implies that you will be better defended against the variant that experts expect to be the most powerful. The fact that you only require a flu vaccine every year is one of its advantages!
The sooner you receive the flu vaccine, the better.
It is crucial to be immunised early because the flu season commonly begins in October and may persist until May. The most effective times to get immunised are in September and October.
The flu vaccine should take effect right away, but it takes approximately two weeks for the immune system of your body to produce the antibodies needed to fight the flu and keep you from getting sick.
Additional defence against COVID-19
According to studies, people who get COVID and the flu at the same time are twice as likely to die as those who only get COVID-19. It is safe to have the flu vaccine and COVID vaccines at the same time. Receiving both vaccines lowers the incidence of COVID-19-related hospitalisation, mechanical ventilation, and mortality.
The flu vaccine will not give you the flu.
It’s a common misconception that getting the flu vaccine will make you suffer from the flu, but this is false since the vaccine involves a deadened virus.
A flu vaccine without needles is available.
Do you fear needles? There is a needle-free flu vaccine, so no worries.
A nasal spray can be administered to healthy, non-pregnant, and non-asthmatic individuals between the ages of 2 and 49.
The intradermal shot is a different variation that can be administered to anyone between the ages of 18 and 64.
There is a flu vaccine available for the elderly.
There is a form of the flu vaccine designed for individuals 65 and older that provides them with even stronger protection against influenza in addition to the standard flu vaccine, which is administered to individuals over the age of 6 months.
It enables you to stay at work.
Missing time off from work or a job while sick with the flu may be second only to feeling miserable. Symptoms usually appear one to four days after being exposed to the virus. The symptoms may last for up to a week after that.
Most flu vaccine side effects are minimal.
A few side effects of the flu vaccine include headache, sore throat, and runny nose. Even though many individuals do not experience these side effects, if you do, they should just last a day or two. The flu vaccine is a better alternative because the illness itself often goes away in one to two weeks and may cause serious symptoms.
Consider the upcoming flu season now. Most flu clinics and healthcare facilities will keep the vaccination available as long as flu viruses are prevalent throughout the season. So, consult the healthcare professionals and get the benefits of flu vaccination if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms.
