Fall and Flu Season
This blog is a repost from last year. While we don’t like to make a habit of recycling old material, this information is worth sharing again.
It’s that time of year again, FLU SEASON! Well, the time technically started in September, and since flu season runs through May, it’s that time a lot of the year. Still, the earlier you get vaccinated the better. Flu vaccines are a crucial prevention against getting the flu, along with stopping worsening chronic conditions that may be affected by influenza. Our RN advocates hear quite a few misconceptions about the flu vaccine. We hope to help clear your view. As always, feel free to reach out with questions, concerns, or general comments!
So how do vaccines work?
The CDC reports flu vaccines work by creating the development of antibodies in your body a couple weeks after vaccination. These antibodies protect against protection with the viruses that are in the vaccine.
Are vaccines good for everybody?
Vaccinations protect people around you, including those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness. Infants, young children, older people, and people with certain chronic health conditions are at greater risk.
Flu vaccination can reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization, especially in children and seniors. Vaccination helps protect women during and after pregnancy. Vaccinations also protects the baby several months after birth.
- A 2014 study showed that flu vaccine reduced children’s risk of flu-related pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission by 74%.
- A 2016 study showed that flu vaccine reduced risk of hospitalization for people 50 years and older by 57%. Flu vaccination is an important preventive tool for people with chronic health conditions.
- Flu vaccination also has been shown to be associated with reduced hospitalizations among people with diabetes (79%) and chronic lung disease (52%).
Still need some convincing?
The Center for Disease Control’s website contains a lot of valuable resources. NShore Patient Advocates is another good resource. Won’t you give us a call?
