Fall and the Flu

Fall is here and so are the many activities we associate with it – raking the falling multi-colored leaves, enjoying the variety of pumpkin-flavored items that suddenly reappear in stores and restaurants, watching football and school resuming. But there is another activity that should be part of our fall routine – getting a flu shot.

Flu shots are an annual activity because there are many different types of flu viruses and the strains that inflect the most people each year changes yearly. Researchers monitor flu viruses and determine which strains will cause the most illness during the upcoming flu season. Then vaccines are created to protect the public from these likely offenders.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 6 months of age and older get a yearly flu vaccination, preferably by October. It takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu once you are vaccinated.

While it recommended that everyone get a flu shot, it is especially important for certain populations. Along with healthcare workers and caregivers, children aged 6 months through 4 years, people 50 years old or more, women who are or will be pregnant during flu season, residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities, and people who are morbidly obese (body-mass index is 40 or greater) should make getting vaccinated a priority.

Contact Principal Medical Group for more information about the flu vaccine.