That’s One Of The Reasons You Can Still Get The Flu After Youve Gotten The Shot
There are typically two reasons you’d get the flu after you get the vaccine. The first is that the prevailing strains don’t exactly match the ones in the vaccine, like we mentioned previously. “If you get the shot and become infected with a different strain, you’ll probably have a less severe course because your body has been exposed to similar flu particles and your immune system is already stronger,” Eiras says.
You might also get the flu because you were exposed to the virus right before you got the shot, Eiras says. According to the CDC, the incubation period for the flu can last one to four days, so you might not have any symptoms at all for a solid week after being infected. In this case, the shot won’t really help or lessen the severity of the flu, but it can still provide protection against other strains that could pop up later on.
In The 20182019 Flu Season 492% Of People Over Six Months Old Got A Flu Vaccine
That is the highest number since 20092010. That said, its below the 70% target set by the Department of Health and Human Services. Historically, children have been more likely to be vaccinated compared to adults. For instance, flu vaccine statistics note that during the 20182019 season, 45.3% of adults and 62.6% of children between six months and 17 years old got a flu vaccine.
Myth: You Dont Need A Flu Shot Every Year
Fact: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older receive a flu vaccination every year. Viruses constantly change and the vaccine is updated each year to fight strains expected to be most prevalent.
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The Virus Killed Most People Who Were Infected With It
In fact, the vast majority of the people who contracted the 1918 flu survived. National death rates among the infected generally did not exceed 20 percent.
However, death rates varied among different groups. In the U.S., deaths were particularly high among Native American populations, perhaps due to lower rates of exposure to past strains of influenza. In some cases, entire Native communities were wiped out.
Of course, even a 20 percent death rate vastly exceeds
The Quick : 10 Flu Facts
It’s flu shot time around here, so I guess I have the flu on the brain. I thought if I did, maybe you guys do too, so I did a little research today.WebMD and had a particularly interesting article on flu myths. I summarized a couple of their myths, but you can get the full article here. Disclaimer, though: If you end up surfing around WebMD and diagnosing yourself with all kinds of horrible ailments , I take no responsibility.
1. The flu vaccine can’t give you the flu. The vaccines only contain a dead piece of the flu virus, and a dead virus can’t infect you. There is a nasal vaccine that contains a live virus, but that particular vaccine is designed to seek and destroy the part of the virus that actually makes you sick.
2. You can treat the flu. Within 48 hours of contracting it, a doctor can prescribe antiviral medicine that will help. It’s not going to get rid of it entirely, but it will lessen the time that you’re curled up on the couch, watching bad daytime T.V. and wanting to die.
3. The Spanish Flu is the most well-known pandemic of the flu ” it took out anywhere from 40 to 100 million people from 1918 to 1920. It was so severe that it registered a Level 5 on the Pandemic Severity Scale, which is the highest level that exists. The mortality rate was incredibly high ” some estimates say up to 20 percent. People that got it and survived, though, include FDR, Walt Disney, Mary Pickford, General Pershing and Woodrow Wilson.
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There Have Been Four Major Flu Pandemics Since 1900
The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919 is the most famous because it killed the most people. Up to 100 million people died during that time because of the flu. The Asian flu pandemic is estimated to have killed up to 4 million people, while the Hong Kong flu in the 1960s is believed to have killed about 1 million people. The last major pandemic was the swine flu and it is the least deadly pandemic of the four.
Are There Any Side Effects
Photo credit: jspad via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-SA
Just like with any medicine you take, the flu shot does have some potential side effects.
Most of them are fairly minor like soreness around where you got the needle and some flu-like symptoms .
Although it might sound crazy, feeling a little flush actually means the vaccine is working! Those light symptoms are just your body figuring out how to deal with the virus.
More serious side effects can include allergic reactions, but they are really rare. That said, if you experience an allergic reaction, call a doctor immediately.
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Coronavirus And The Flu Share Some Symptoms
Both spread in similar waysbetween people who are closer than six feet, through talking, coughing, or sneezing. Also, some of the overlapping symptoms include sore throat, cough, fever, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing.
Myth: The Flu Vaccine Is 100 Percent Effective
Fact: Overall, its somewhere around 60-65 percent effective. But its still the best choice, notes Dr. Aaron Glatt, a spokesman for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. You will have a lower chance of getting the flu, and you will have a lower chance of getting a severe case of the flu.
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Swine Flu Was First Discovered In 2009
In 2009, a 10-year-old girl from California was diagnosed with swine flu. According to the swine flu facts, this is a type A virus that usually affects pigs, not humans. Notably, it was a combination of swine, bird, and human viruses mixed in pigs and spread to humans. Today, swine flu is considered a regular seasonal flu, and theres a flu shot that helps prevent it.
Who Is At Higher Risk From Influenza Who Are The Risk Groups That Need Immunizing
The young have a greater risk of being infected because they have not developed immunity to the virus and a few countries recommend routine immunization of young children. However, apart from the very young, fit healthy children generally dont get as sick with influenza as often as the elderly.
The elderly, when they are infected, on average have a greater risk of developing severe complications of infection such as pneumonia. They also more often have underlying diseases than younger adults, which reduce their resistance to infection. The immune response may also be less effective in elderly persons.
Other high-risk groups are people with long term heart or chest disease or any other chronic medical condition. These conditions make them more likely to suffer severe illness than people who are basically healthy.
Because of these facts most countries recommend annual influenza vaccination of the elderly and those with chronic illnesses. The exact policies vary from country to country. For example some countries immunize everyone over 65, others everyone over 60 or even 55 years.
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Check If You Have Flu
Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:
- a sudden high temperature of 38C or above
- an aching body
- diarrhoea or tummy pain
- feeling sick and being sick
The symptoms are similar for children, but they can also get pain in their ear and appear less active.
Cold and flu symptoms are similar, but flu tends to be more severe.
| Flu | |
|---|---|
| Appears quickly within a few hours | Appears gradually |
| Affects more than just your nose and throat | Affects mainly your nose and throat |
| Makes you feel exhausted and too unwell to carry on as normal | Makes you feel unwell, but you’re OK to carry on as normal |
Who Knew That The Flu Was Smart
Are you feeling a tickle in the back of your throat? Is your body aching all of a sudden? The bad news is that you may have come down with a case of the flu, but the good news is that information and fast-acting remedies can help you manage the flu better. Use these unusual facts about the influenza virus to build up your knowledge so you can create an informed defensive plan.
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The Flu Shot Facts And Stats
Influenza vaccines, commonly known as flu shots, or flu jabs, protect against influenza viruses infection. Notably, new versions are developed twice a year since the influenza virus changes constantly.
What might also protect you during the flu season is taking zinc and magnesium, drinking plenty of liquids, as well as supplementing vitamin D, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. Dont miss out on this section as we go into more detail.
What Should A Person Do Who Thinks They Have Influenza
There are two principles: 1. Look after yourself and 2. Dont infect others.
The customs vary with the country. In some countries most people expect to see a doctor while in other countries it is not always thought necessary to actually see a doctor unless the person seems very ill or is in a risk group. People with chronic or long-standing illness may need medical attention earlier and quickly.
The best advice is for the person to go home, use handkerchiefs properly , wash his or her hands frequently, do not share towels, rest, drink plenty of fluids and take medicines that will reduce the temperature and the aching . If it is necessary to have people about him or her at home he or she might consider wearing a simple disposable mask.
Most influenza illnesses are self-limiting and may be caused either by influenza or other viruses/pathogens. It is best to treat the infection at home until the person is well enough to return to normal activities.
However advice from the persons doctor or nurse must be sought quickly if symptoms become more severe or last more than about a week.
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I Hear The Flu Shot Doesn’t Work
It’s complicated. The influenza virus isnt the only virus that creates similar symptoms.
You might get a flu shot and still get a common cold, which can feel a lot like the flu. Because of this, some people think the flu shot didnt work, even though it did.
Its important to remember that no medicine is 100% effective, 100% of the time. That said, youre much less likely to get the flu if you get the flu shot.
What Is The Flu
The flu, also called influenza, is a respiratory infection caused by viruses. Each year, millions of Americans get sick with the flu. Sometimes it causes mild illness. But it can also be serious or even deadly, especially for people over 65, newborn babies, and people with certain chronic illnesses.
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Flu Fact : The Flu Shot Works
The flu vaccine reduces the risk of flu by 40% to 60%, according to recent studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even if you get the flu after being vaccinated, it can make your symptoms less severe. A 2021 study showed that adults who got the flu after being vaccinated had a 26% lower risk of being admitted to the intensive care unit and a 31% lower risk of death than those who were unvaccinated.
What If I Get The Flu Virus Again
You can usually get your flu shot at your local pharmacy.
Don’t worry. If youre exposed to that kind of virus again, your body already knows how to take care of it. It can destroy the virus before you actually get sick.
This is how vaccines work. They give your body a virus or bacteria that is either dead or otherwise deactivated.
That way, the virus or bacteria cant actually get you sick, but your body can still recognize it and learn how to fight it.
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Facts You Probably Didnt Know About The Flu
Its that time of the year when sniffles, achoo-s, and tissue blows echo through the crisp winter air in a somewhat harmonious melody. This tune tends to be the loudest and most prevalent, though, in the waiting rooms of doctor offices as patients scramble in with sicknesses.
For most patients, its more than just the winter blues its the winter flu.
The flu is a contagious respiratory disease caused by influenza A or B viruses that attack the body by spreading through the upper and/or lower respiratory tract. Since 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that influenza has resulted in between 9.2 and 35.6 million illnesses in the United States.
Despite the prevalence of the flu, Sangeeta Agarwal, M.D., an internal medicine physician at Hackensack Meridian Health Medical Group, and Anjali Gupta, M.D., an internal medicine provider at Hackensack Meridian Health Medical Group, explain that there are 12 facts about the virus that many of their patients dont know:
Flu season can last into May. Although we start to see the flu come around in October and November and then see it really peak throughout the months of December to February, the flu virus can linger until May and sometimes even a bit after, shares Dr. Gupta.
You can get the flu shot if you are sick. Unless you have a fever of over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, you can still get the flu shot. If you just have mild cold symptoms, youre in the clear! says Agarwal.
% To 30% Of People With The Flu Virus Dont Experience Influenza Symptoms
Its just a myth that a person who feels fine cant spread the virus, as the flu mutation rate accelerates every year, so you dont have to feel the symptoms to have the flu. Thats why its vital to get the flu shot regularly and build immunity to new strains of the virus that can cause a flu outbreak.
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What Is Different This Year About Flu Season During Covid
During the COVID-19 pandemic, its extra important for everyone to get their flu shot. We need to prevent as much flu as we possibly can, so that our clinics and hospitals can focus on caring for patients who are ill with COVID-19 and other serious illnesses.
Frequent hand washing, wearing face masks, and social distancing also help to prevent both influenza and COVID-19. If you havent been vaccinated for COVID-19 or need a booster shot, you can get a flu and COVID-19 shot at the same time.
Also, during the 2021-22 flu season, anyone who gets flu symptoms should:
- Follow guidelines for home isolation
- Get a COVID-19 test
Thats because of the similarity between flu symptoms and COVID-19 symptoms. Fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, headache, body aches, sore throat, extreme fatigue, and diarrhea could be flu or could be COVID-19. Check with your healthcare provider or visit .
The Flu Virus Is Smart
Researchers at Aarhus University have determined that the influenza virus is smart enough to mask itself from discovery long enough to settle in and make you want to curl up on the couch with a box of tissues. “The virus contains a protein that masks the virus entering the cell. In this way, the influenza virus can spread more easily before the immune system recognizes that it is a virus and attempts to fight it,” says Associate Professor Christian Holm from the Department of Biomedicine at Aarhus University.2
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The Flu Vaccine Changes Slightly Every Year
There are many different types of flu vaccines and their specific compositions are a little different each year. Viruses are constantly mutating and changing their form. The dominant flu virus that might cause an infection this season will be different from the one that circulated last year. Therefore, you need a new flu vaccine each year to protect yourself from the modified virus.
When Should I Get The Flu Vaccine
Every year, as soon as it is available. It takes about two weeks to be fully effective, so it is important to get it before flu season begins, if possible. But, you can still get vaccinated through the spring and beyond. Even though flu season usually peaks in February, it can continue at least through May. Flu vaccine is offered at health care providers’ offices, clinics and pharmacies.
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Can I Get The Flu From The Flu Vaccine
No. Some people get a mild fever or have discomfort for a short time after being vaccinated, but this is a sign that your body is responding to the vaccine. It is not the flu. Also, because there are many viruses circulating in the fall, it is possible to get sick with a different virus around the same time they get flu vaccine.
As Flu Season Kicks Off In The Us You May Be Wondering If You Should Get The Flu Shot The Short Answer Is Yes
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that usually cause a fever, chills, sore throat, runny nose, and muscle aches. It is not the same as the common cold and is usually more dangerous, but they can have similar symptoms. If you’ve ever had the flu, you know that it can be absolutely miserable, knocking you out for days or even weeks.
In the US, flu season generally runs from October to March. Now that its October, you may be considering the flu shot, and you might have a few questions about it. Do I actually need it? What if I just ride it out? My friends arent getting it, so why should I?
These are all valid questions, and with all the misconceptions and myths surrounding the flu shot, its no wonder why you have them. In order to clear those up and explain what you need to know, we spoke to Daniel Eiras, MD, assistant professor of infectious diseases at NYU Langone Health, and consulted the most recent vaccination guidelines for the 2017-2018 flu season from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Here are some answers.
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