Q&A: Should I still bother to get a flu shot?

Q: Should I still bother to get a flu shot?

A: Getting a flu vaccine each season is the best way to protect yourself against influenza (commonly known as the flu). Though nearly everyone over 6 months should be vaccinated, it's especially important to immunize young children, the elderly, and pregnant women. Not only is the flu virus potentially lethal to pregnant women, the immunity it confers also helps protect the unborn.

The flu is a contagious respiratory virus. On average, it hospitalizes approximately 200,000 Americans a year, and more than 3,000 die from it annually. Cases of flu begin in the fall, peak in January and February, and are usually seen through March.

So, yes, it's still worth getting a shot if you haven't already. It takes about a week after the injection for immunity to build.

Flu symptoms include fever, chills, aches, cough, runny nose, sore throat, body aches and fatigue for up to seven days. Although most recover from the flu, it can cause severe pneumonia and death.

You can spread the virus before you know you are sick. The typical incubation period is one to four days; you can be contagious to others up to 10 days after the illness starts. The influenza virus spreads to others when those who are infected cough, sneeze, or even talk.

The virus mutates, which is why a new vaccine is produced each year to cover the most common circulating strains.

A common myth is you will get mildly sick if you receive an influenza vaccine. This is not true. The virus in the vaccine is not alive. When you are vaccinated, your immune system creates antibodies to protect your body from infection. If you experience flulike symptoms after receiving a vaccine, it is likely a coincidence that you picked up another bug.

Schedule an appointment with your doctor or stop in to your local pharmacy to protect yourself and those around you.

- Ronald Goren, M.D., infectious diseases specialist, Nazareth Hospital

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