Intro – Flu Vaccination Pros… any Cons?
I got my flu shot yesterday. I seldom have a cold or the flu and I never had the flu vaccination until the COVID pandemic. Since then I have been for the flu vaccination on an yearly basis. My medical aid paid for the injection and I got 2,000 Vitality Points in the process.
Who should get the Flu Vaccination
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone age 6 months or older. The flu vaccine can lower your risk of getting the flu. It also can lower the risk of having serious illness from the flu and needing to stay in hospital or dying from the flu.
Flu shot: Your best bet for avoiding influenza
Mayo Clinic
It’s true that the vaccine isn’t 100% effective (the effectiveness varies by year) but it’s your best bet if you don’t want to get sick.
Harvard Health
How Long does the Flu Vaccine Protect you
The flu shot wears off in about six months. The flu shot does not provide long-lasting protection, which is another reason we need to get one every year. When should I get a flu shot? It is recommended that one gets the flu shot in the early fall/ autumn, before the virus starts circulating in the community.
What are the Side Effects of the Flu Shot
Common side effects after a flu shot include soreness, redness and/or swelling where the shot was given. You may also experience a minor headache, fever, nausea, muscle aches, and fatigue, according to the CDC.
What to Avoid when taking Flu Vaccine
Strenuous exercise, excessive alcohol consumption and taking new medications without consulting your healthcare provider should be avoided after getting a flu shot. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe allergic reactions, high fever, or persistent pain at the injection site.
People who SHOULD NOT get a Flu Shot
- Children younger than 6 months of age are too young to get a flu shot.
- People with severe, life-threatening allergies to any ingredient in a vaccine, including flu vaccine (other than egg proteins), should not get that vaccine. This might include gelatin, antibiotics, or other ingredients.
- People who have had a severe allergic reaction to a dose of influenza vaccine should not get that flu vaccine again and might not be able to receive other influenza vaccines. If you have had a severe allergic reaction to an influenza vaccine in the past, it is important to talk with your health care provider to help determine whether vaccination is appropriate for you.
Sources
- Who Should and Who Should NOT Get a Flu Vaccine >
- Featured image by CDC on Unsplash
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Like you, I never had a flu injection. On arriving in Ireland my GP said she encouraged her older patients to have the injection as we are a more vulnerable group. Eileen and I took her advice and had a shot. A week later we both got flu and were sent off to the covid testing center and hey-ho-would-you-know we both tested positive!!! Well now the biggest con in world history is over – drug houses trillions richer, life goes on. Meanwhile cancer patient mortality makes covid stats look like a sick (no pun intended) joke and there is no injection for that. Aah, where was I? Oh yes, flu injection. I have faith in my GP (I think she’s an angel in disguise) and we now have regular flu shots. But as you are still a youngster T. and a super-fit one at that, you may not need the needle. But I think we should all be sporting and have the shots, if nothing else, to prove we are all ripe for herding! 🙂