The flu shot

The seasonal flu shot is a yearly vaccine administered to protect against the flu, or influenza. In the United States, flu shots are recommended for everyone ages months and older. Getting a flu shot often protects you from coming down with the flu.

CDC on Flu Vaccine: Everyone months and older get a flu vaccine each season. People who are at high risk of serious flu illness should take flu antiviral drugs quickly if they get sick.

An influenza shot is a vaccine given with a needle, usually in the arm. The bottom line: If you haven’t had one yet, get a flu shot , even if you already had the flu (or a bug you think might have been the flu). Although the vaccine doesn’t guarantee that you’ll. While side effects of the flu vaccine may occur, they are usually minor.

Furthermore, the common side effects and risks are mild and temporary when compared to the risks and severe health effects of the annual influenza epidemic. Find a Walgreens store near you. Flu vaccines really do prevent the flu in infants, children, and adults.

WebMD explains the reasons to get a flu shot each year, what kind to get, and who shouldn’t get one. Many people worry about side effects from the flu shot , but serious complications are rare. Some people believe that they can actually get the flu from receiving the shot , but this is not the case.

For the majority of people, the risks of developing the flu are far greater than any risks associated with the vaccine. Not all flu shots are the same. When is the best time to get a flu shot ? For people over age 6 there is evidence that the high-dose vaccine will provide greater than a standard dose vaccine, Atmar said. You actually have a lot of options, and some of them are free as long as you have health insurance. It is impossible to get the flu from the vaccine since it uses a dead and inactive strain of influenza.

Because the flu shot is updated based on the type of virus circulating around the country. Here’s why you still may get or feel sick after you get a flu shot , though. The flu isn’t a serious illness.

Flu shot side effects don’t always occur, but they can range. They often include a deactivated flu virus. Each of the ingredients work together to ensure that the vaccine is safe and effective.

Protect yourself —and others —with a yearly flu shot , available at Kaiser Permanente at no cost to members.

No appointment necessary. It is especially important to get a flu shot if you, someone you live with, or someone you care for is at high risk for complications from the flu. Seasonal flu vaccines have an excellent safety record. What is known, is that the flu shot does disable and kill people.

This has been included in some flu shot manufacturers own research and reported to the FDA. While death from the flu shot is rare, the truth is, no one actually knows which one kills more people – the flu or the flu shot !