Three reasons why you shouldn’t skip the flu vaccine this year
It’s important to get a flu shot every year. Here’s why.
Crisp, cool weather is approaching — and so is flu season. That means one thing: It’s time to get your annual flu shot.
The flu is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs caused by influenza viruses. It spreads through the air from person to person when they cough, sneeze, or talk. Every year, millions of people in the U.S. get sick with the flu. Flu season starts in October, peaks in the winter months when many people are indoors more often, and lasts through May.
That’s why it’s key to prepare for flu season with a flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older get a flu shot. Flu shots are particularly important if you’re an older adult because there’s a higher risk of getting dangerously sick from the flu, which sometimes requires hospitalization.
Other high-risk groups include women who are pregnant, children under 2 years old, and people with asthma, diabetes, cancer, or COPD.
Here are three important reasons to get a flu shot soon.
1. The flu shot helps keep you from getting sick
The flu shot lowers the overall risk of getting sick by 40–60%, according to the CDC. The vaccine helps your immune system create antibodies, which are protective proteins that fight off viruses and other germs.
Even if you got a flu shot last year, you’ll need to get another one this year. That’s because your immunity has worn off since last year’s vaccine. Plus, flu strains change from year to year, which means the vaccine also changes every year. This year’s shot will protect you from the strains that experts think will circulate this winter.
“Based on the previous flu season, scientists who develop the vaccines can get a good sense of what may be coming the following year,” says Jay Lee, M.D. He’s the chief medical officer at Share Our Selves health center in Orange County, California. Using that information, they create a flu shot that tackles the strains we may see in the coming flu season.
2. The shot can reduce your symptoms
The flu shot isn’t 100% effective at preventing illness, but if you do catch the flu, having had the shot usually means milder symptoms and a faster recovery, according to the CDC. That means less strain on your body — and your schedule.
Minimizing flu symptoms is especially important for older adults, as catching the flu can lead to serious complications, according to the CDC. As you age, your immune system weakens, making it easier to catch another illness — such as pneumonia — while fighting the flu.
Many older adults also have underlying conditions, such as lung disease or heart disease, according to the National Institute on Aging. These conditions can make flu symptoms even more dangerous.
3. It can help protect your loved ones
A flu shot doesn’t just protect you — it also helps keep other people in your household or workplace from getting sick.
The flu shot works best when most of us get it, according to the CDC. After all, everyone who gets the flu catches it from someone else. More people getting the vaccine means fewer chances for the virus to spread.
Vaccinating yourself also helps those who can’t get vaccines. For example, you may have a newborn child or grandchild—children under 6 months are too young to get the shot. The flu vaccine is also not always recommended for people with weakened immune systems or severe allergies. The CDC says these individuals are at the highest risk for severe flu, which can lead to hospitalization or even death.
When you reduce your own chances of getting the flu, you’re less likely to pass it on. “Even if you don’t think about doing it for yourself, think about doing it for those you love,” Dr. Lee says.
Are you 65 or older?
The CDC recommends that people ages 65 and older get a higher-dose flu shot that offers extra protection. There are several high-dose options, so ask your doctor which one is right for you.
If you’re due for an annual wellness visit, Dr. Lee suggests getting your flu shot at that appointment. You can also get a flu shot at a pharmacy or health clinic.
Can’t get the flu shot by the end of October? Don’t worry. You can get vaccinated after that and still be protected for flu season, according to the CDC.
