Why get the flu vaccine?
If you’ve ever had the flu, you know how bad it can make you feel. To help avoid all that misery, as well as potential health problems caused by the flu, doctors recommend that all children and teens get a flu vaccine every year.
There are other good reasons too:
- It is very important for people with some medical conditions. (such as kidney disease, diabetes, HIV, heart problems, or asthma) to get a flu shot. They are more likely to have serious health problems (such as pneumonia) when they get the flu.
- Children and teens who need to take aspirin for a health problem also need the flu vaccine. They are at risk of contracting a serious condition called
if they get the flu. - Getting vaccinated protects the people around you. Because you are less likely to get the flu and spread it, you help protect people who could get seriously ill from the flu, such as babies, people with serious medical conditions, and the elderly.
When should a person get vaccinated?
To be protected against the flu, you must get the vaccine every year. Unlike other diseases, such as chickenpox, the flu virus continues to change. The vaccine must change to keep up with the types of flu viruses expected to cause problems that year.
Flu viruses typically cause the most illness during the coldest months of the year. In the United States, flu season is from October to May.
The best time to get a flu vaccine is before flu season begins. Getting it as soon as it is available, usually around September, gives the body time to build immunity. Your parents can learn about vaccine availability at your doctor’s office or you can ask your school nurse. The nasal spray vaccine is even available for some people to receive at home.
Even if you can’t get vaccinated right away, getting vaccinated later is better than not getting vaccinated at all. It’s still flu season in January or February; Still, it’s not too late to get a flu shot. And getting a flu shot at the end of the season is especially important for people who travel. This is because the flu can be active around the world all year round.
What are the possible side effects of the flu vaccine?
Flu vaccines come in two forms, an injection and a nasal spray:
- The flu vaccine It is usually injected into the upper arm or thigh, depending on the person’s age. contains delicate flu virus. Pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site may occur. In rare cases, it may cause a low-grade fever or body aches.
- The nasal spray the flu vaccine contains weakened live flu virus. Therefore, it may cause mild flu-like symptoms, such as runny nose, wheezing, sore throat, vomiting, or tiredness. Like the injection, it can sometimes cause a low-grade fever or body aches.
Sometimes people feel dizzy after receiving an injection. To avoid this, you can sit or lie down for 15 minutes immediately after the injection.
Both types of vaccines cause the body to make antibodies to fight infection with the live flu virus and work equally well. Get the vaccine your doctor recommends. People with weak immune systems or some health conditions and pregnant women should not receive the nasal spray vaccine.
What if I still have the flu?
Some people who receive the vaccine could get the flu. But the disease will be much milder and will disappear sooner than if they were not vaccinated. The flu vaccine is very good at protecting against the flu, but it is not 100%. And it only works against some types of viruses. If a new type of flu appears, a person who has received the vaccine may not be protected against it.
What else should I know?
In the past, people with egg allergies had to ask their doctor if the flu vaccine was right for them because it is grown inside eggs. But health experts now say the amount of egg protein in the vaccine is so small that it is safe even for children with a severe egg allergy. People with egg allergies can now get a flu shot like everyone else. They do not need to take any additional precautions.
You can get the flu vaccine at the same time as other vaccines, such as the COVID-19 vaccine. If getting vaccines makes you nervous, talk to your parents about it.
