Flu (influenza) shot is an influenza immunization given with a needle, as a rule in the arm. Seasonal influenza shots ensure against the three or four flu viruses. According to medical science, a person should get flu jabs by end of October, before the flu begins to spread in their surroundings. However, people continue to take vaccination throughout the whole flu season. Flu shots and flu jabs are other names of influenza vaccines. The flu vaccination is effective for only one season, for a tenure of approximately up to six months. As per the doctor’s recommendation, everyone above the age of six months should get flu shots annually.
Flu vaccination is always safe but there are some exceptions, these people should avoid flu jabs
- Children less than the age of six months
- People who have severe reactions after getting flu jabs
- Those who have an allergy to egg or mercury
- People with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
Benefits of seasonal flu shots
The major reason to get flu shots in the future is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, getting flu jabs in the year 2021-2022 is more important than ever before. Flu vaccination is not preventive against the COVID-19 virus but it can reduce the risk of influenza and hospitalization where there is always a risk of exposure from other COVID-19 positive patients, which in turn can be a life-threatening situation. Flu vaccination is a lifesaving factor for people who have a high risk of severe flu complications.
Several benefits of seasonal flu shots are:
1 -Prevention from getting sick with the flu
Flu jabs play an important role in the prevention of millions of people from the illness every year, which in turn reduces the number of flu-related doctors visiting every year. As per CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention Center) report for the year 2019-2021, it has protected 7.5 million people from influenza, reduced up to 3.7 million medical visits, which are directly associated with influenza, save 105,000 people from getting hospitalized, and secure 6300 influenza-associated people from death.
2-Benefits of flu jabs for people with chronic diseases
People with chronic lung diseases must take flu vaccination every year, it helps the person with chronic lung disease to reduce the risk of getting hospitalized. According to medical research, flu vaccination helps to reduce the hospitalization of patients with diabetes and chronic lung illness. In a person with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), flu vaccination also reduces rates of cardiac events in people with cardiac events history.
3-Reduce risk of hospitalization in children and adults
Flu shots reduced the risk of flu-associated admissions in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) by 74 % from 2010-2012. In 2018 according to research on adults, flu shots reduced the risk of flu-associated admissions in the intensive care unit (ICU) by 82%. Flu vaccination creates an immunization against influenza and other influenza-associated diseases. Flu vaccination avoids the worsening of chronic health diseases.
4-Benefits of flu vaccination for women during and after pregnancy
Women with pregnancy should get flu shots because flu jabs reduce the risk of respiratory disorders. It is noticed that pregnant women who get a flu vaccination, these women have a lower risk to get hospitalized due to flu-associated illness as compared to the women without flu vaccination.
When a pregnant women get flu shots it also protects the child against the flu virus. Flu vaccination not only protect the child before birth but also a few months after birth child remains protected by flu viruses.
5- You can protect your community by getting flu shots
When you get vaccinated by flu shots, you are not only protecting yourself against the influenza virus, by getting vaccinated you are also protecting people in your surroundings, it is often we come Into contact with newborn babies and people who are not eligible to get flu shots, we are indirectly protecting these people by getting ourselves vaccinated. This is called herd immunity and this is the key important factor to fight against diseases. If you are eligible, you must have flu shots yearly on time.
Methods of flu shots
In general medical practice flu, shots are given by injection or through a nasal spray. Flu shots usually come in a variety you should contact your doctor about which one is suitable for you.
