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“The flu isn’t that serious...” |
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Many people are unaware that influenza, the flu, is a serious disease. According to the CDC, each year more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, with approximately 36,000 flu-related deaths.2
Flu symptoms, which include fever, headaches, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, extreme tiredness and body aches, can disrupt your work, school and social life for up to two weeks.3
The flu is highly contagious and can easily be passed from a low-risk individual to a high-risk individual, which can then lead to serious complications, including pneumonia and worsening of chronic conditions.3
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“I got the vaccine and still got the flu so it must not be effective…” |
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The vaccine prevents the flu in approximately 70 – 90 percent of healthy people under the age of 65. The effectiveness of the vaccine is subject to variables such as the amount of time between vaccination and exposure to the virus, age and health status, and the match between the virus strains in the vaccine and those in circulation.4
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“I’ll need two vaccines again this year...” |
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The pandemic H1N1 strain that showed up in the spring of 2009 has been included as one of three strains in the new vaccine being produced for the 2010-11 flu season, so you will only need one vaccine!
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“The flu vaccine is only necessary for the old and very young...” |
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The flu vaccine is for anyone who doesn’t want to be sick with the flu or inadvertently spread the virus to others. In 2010, the Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the CDC expanded their recommendation for annual immunization to include all people aged 6 months and over.
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“I got a vaccine last year so I don’t need one this year...” |
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Because influenza strains change each year, you cannot count on last year’s vaccine to protect you this year.6
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“I’m too late...” |
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The flu vaccine is for anyone who doesn’t wish to be sick. While September, October and November are the recommended months for vaccination, getting a flu shot later in the season (December– March) can still protect you as flu season often peaks after January.2 |
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“I’ll take my chances…” |
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Unfortunately, getting the flu means also becoming a carrier. Since the flu is highly contagious, with symptoms starting one to four days after the virus enters the body, even the most conscientious individuals may unknowingly spread the virus.7
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“If I get the vaccine, it might give me the flu...” |
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A flu vaccination will not give you the flu. This is one of the biggest myths surrounding a flu shot. The virus in injectable influenza vaccine has been inactivated, making it biologically unable to cause illness.8
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“I never get the flu…” |
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Influenza strains change every year, which means that even if you had a natural immunity to previous strains, your immunity may not protect you from each year’s new circulating strains.4 |
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The flu is preventable. Get vaccinated!
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