Healthy Winter Living
Flu Shots: It's Not Too Late
It's December and everywhere you look friends and family are down with flu symptoms: fevers, body aches, and fatigue.
If you're still feeling pretty chipper yourself, great! But if you want to hedge your bets, it's good to know that even though flu season is in full swing, it's not too late for the added protection of the flu vaccine.
Swine Flu: 10 Things Not to Do
Swine flu (H1N1) has been in the news since it first appeared this spring, and while there have been deaths and hospitalizations in countries worldwide, most cases have been relatively mild. And now, there is an H1N1 swine flu vaccine, too. That's the good news. But the bad news is, swine flu can still be serious, and it's still widespread. With that in mind, here are 10 swine flu "don'ts" -- things not to do for swine flu prevention.
Read the Swine Flu: 10 Things Not to Do article > >
Flu viruses change from year to year. So each year, manufacturers develop a new vaccine based on predictions of what strains of influenza viruses will be around during flu season. In the spring of 2009, the H1N1 virus spread to the U.S. too late to be included in the regular “seasonal vaccine.” So a separate vaccine - the H1N1 flu vaccine -- was developed. For the 2010-2011 flu season, the 2009 H1N1 virus strain is included in the seasonal flu vaccine.
Flu Vaccines: Shots and Mists
The best way to protect yourself against the flu is to get vaccinated, say the experts at the CDC. That means getting a flu shot or the nasal-spray flu vaccine, preferably between October and November.
Yet there's time for prevention, even now. Flu season usually peaks in February -- though it can spike anywhere from November to May. So, getting the flu vaccine later can help protect you and others from down-time with the flu bug. And you can boost the power of prevention by:
- Scrubbing your hands often
- Getting plenty of rest
- Exercising most days
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet
Flu Shots FAQ
Won't the flu vaccine make me sick?
Have no fear, getting vaccinated against the flu won't give you influenza. The flu shot is made of killed virus; the mist is made of live, but weakened virus. Both vaccines may produce mild symptoms like muscle aches and a runny nose, but these symptoms are brief and far less severe than the actual flu itself.
I'm pregnant. Should I get the flu shot?
Pregnant women can be particularly vulnerable to flu complications, which include pneumonia, hospitalization, and death.
If you'll be pregnant during flu season, the CDC recommends getting vaccinated. The nasal spray flu vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women.
Should everyone be vaccinated?
While the experts recommend flu vaccinations for most people, they're not right for everyone.
The nasal spray flu vaccine is only recommended for nonpregnant, healthy people ages 2 through 49.
Flu vaccination may not be suitable for those with certain issues such as severe allergy to eggs, severe reaction to the flu vaccine in the past, history of Guillain-Barre syndrome (a serious neurological condition), or children less than 6 months old. People with moderate-to-severe illness with fever should wait until they recover before getting vaccinated.
Not sure if these limitations apply to you? Give your doctor a call.
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