Influensa Vaccin

Everything You Must Know About Influenza Vaccine

Why it's important

Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches, and fatigue.

The flu can be serious, especially for people with chronic health conditions, young children, and the elderly. In the United States, the flu causes an average of 36,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations each year.

The flu vaccine is the best way to prevent the flu. It is safe and effective, and it can help reduce your risk of getting the flu, being hospitalized, or dying from the flu.

How it works

The flu vaccine works by stimulating your body's immune system to produce antibodies against the flu virus. These antibodies will help protect you from getting the flu, or if you do get the flu, they will help you get better faster.

The flu vaccine is made with inactivated or weakened flu viruses. This means that the viruses in the vaccine cannot cause the flu.

Who should get it

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the flu vaccine every year. The flu vaccine is especially important for people who are at high risk of developing complications from the flu, such as:

• People with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease
• Young children
• The elderly
• Pregnant women
• Healthcare workers
• People who live in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities

When to get it

The best time to get the flu vaccine is in September or October. This will give your body enough time to develop immunity before the flu season starts.

Side effects

The flu vaccine is safe, but it can cause some side effects, such as:

• Soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site
• Fever
• Chills
• Muscle aches
• Headache
• Fatigue

These side effects are usually mild and go away within a few days.

Contraindications

There are a few people who should not get the flu vaccine, such as:

• People who are allergic to eggs
• People who have had a severe reaction to a previous flu vaccine
• People who are currently sick with a fever

Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness

The flu vaccine is not 100% effective, but it is the best way to prevent the flu. Studies have shown that the flu vaccine can reduce your risk of getting the flu by 40% to 60%. If you do get the flu after being vaccinated, you are likely to have a milder case and recover more quickly.

Conclusion

The flu vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent the flu. It is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community from the flu.