United Family Hospital and Clinics believe a yearly flu vaccination is the best tool currently available to protect against influenza (flu), a serious disease which sickens millions of people each year.
Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk of serious flu complications. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year.
Signs and symptoms of flu
People who have the flu often feel some or all of these signs and symptoms that usually start suddenly, not gradually:
- Fever* or feeling feverish/chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue (very tired)
- Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in young children than in adults
People at high risk of flu
Anyone can get the flu (even healthy people), and serious problems related to the flu can happen at any age, but some people are at high risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick. This includes people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease), pregnant women and young children.
Preventing seasonal flu
- The best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated every year. Getting an annual Flu vaccine is the first and best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu.
- The more people who get vaccinated, the more people will be protected from flu, including older people, very young children, pregnant women, and people with certain long-term health conditions who are more vulnerable to serious flu complications.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends everyday preventive actions (like staying away from people who are sick, covering coughs and sneezes and frequent handwashing) to help slow the spread of germs that cause respiratory (nose, throat and lungs) illnesses, like flu.
When should you get vaccinated?
You should get a flu vaccine now. It’s best to get vaccinated before flu begins spreading in your community. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body that protect against flu. CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October, if possible. Getting vaccinated later, however, can still be beneficial and vaccination should continue to be offered throughout the flu season, even into January or later.
Why you need a flu vaccine every year?
A flu vaccine is needed every season for two reasons. First, the body’s immune response from vaccination declines over time, so an annual vaccine is needed for optimal protection. Second, because flu viruses are constantly changing, the formulation of the flu vaccine is reviewed each year and sometimes updated to keep up with changing flu viruses. For the best protection, everyone 6 months and older should get vaccinated annually.
People at high risk for developing flu-related complications
- Adults 65 Years and Older
- Pregnant Women
- Young Children
- Children with Neurologic Conditions
- Asthma
- Heart Disease & Stroke
- Diabetes
- HIV/AIDS
- Cancer
Dr. Yang Tianjiao is a Pediatrician, Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialty Service and a Hepatologist at Shanghai United Family Hospital.
See listing for Shanghai United Hospital and Clinics.
Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)
