Many of us still have issues surrounding the flu shot even though it’s been around for years. Questions include what it is, how it works, and whether or not it is necessary.
Here are five quick facts to help you make your decision:
1. Doctors recommend everyone over age six months should get a flu shot. Talk to your own doctor about it.
2. Each year, a different flu vaccine is created to be effective against the current virus strain, so it’s important to get a flu shot every year.
3. The best time to do it is in September or October, before flu season starts in November. It takes two weeks for the shot to be most effective, so you can still get one in December or later, but earlier shots give you better odds of staying flu-free
4. The benefits of getting the flu shot outweigh the risks: The shot cannot cause the flu as it does not contain a live virus, but some recipients may experience mild fever or soreness at the site of injection.
5. The flu shot is effective in preventing influenza as it causes antibodies to develop in your body. These antibodies provide protection against infection.
