Benefits of the Flu Vaccine

Benefits of the Flu Vaccine

Dallas-Fort Worth Emergency Room Physician Details the Benefits of the Flu Vaccine

This year's annual flu shot will provide protection against four of the influenza viruses expected to be most common during this flu season. High-dose flu vaccines will be available for adults age 65 and older.

Influenza, often called the flu, is an infection of the nose, throat and lungs, also called the respiratory system. Influenza can cause serious complications, especially in children age 2 or younger, pregnant people, adults over age 65 and people with certain medical conditions. By some estimates, the flu causes more than 400,000 hospital stays and 50,000 deaths every year.

Getting an influenza vaccine — though not 100% effective — is the best way to prevent the misery of the flu and its complications. 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 the hospital.

What is the Flu?

Flu is a respiratory illness caused by influenza virus that infects millions people around the world every year. The CDC estimates that up to 11% of the US population is infected every year. People infected are very contagious and can easily spread it to others.

Symptoms of Flu can range from very mild to severe:

Certain population groups are at higher risk for complications from Flu Infection:

  • Elderly adults 65+
  • Adults with certain Chronic Health conditions including but not limited to Sickle Cell, Kidney Disease, Heart Disease, HIV/Aids, certain cancers
  • Pregnant Women
  • Children younger than 2 years old

How can a Flu shot keep me from getting the Flu?

  • The flu shot contains antigens, which are molecules that allow your body to make antibodies that are designed specifically to fight off flu infection. This is similar to how other vaccines work.
  • Your body then uses these new antibodies to fight of new flu antigens that enter your body and prevent them from infecting you and causing the flu.

Do I need a Flu shot every year?

Some vaccines last several years (some even last for life), the flu vaccine is different. The influenza virus that causes flu changes (or mutates) rapidly. As a result, every year these mutations create a different strain of influenza that causes illness. A new flu vaccine is created each year to keep up with these changes and give us the best protection against infection.

According to the CDC, everyone 6 months of age or over needs an annual flu shot.

If you are experiencing severe influenza symptoms, please visit the closest emergency room. ER of Texas has several emergency room locations throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth with board certified physicians, and we are open 24/7. Schedule an emergency room appointment with us today if you are experiencing flu symptoms.

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