Don't Have Time to Get Sick This Year?

December 6,2017

As far as acute illnesses go, nothing is much worse than a bad case of the flu. On the other hand, there's no such thing as a good case of the flu. If you have put off getting your annual flu shot, now's the time quit procrastinating. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flu season can start as early as October and run through late spring. The flu season usually peaks between December and February in the United States. Since the Holidays are here, the best time to get vaccinated is NOW!

Every year you hear someone say, that they don't get a flu shot because ________. Yep, just fill in the blank with some lame excuse. One of the most common excuses is that the flu shot will give you the flu. This simply isn't true. The flu shot does not contain an active virus. You would have to catch it from someone who is infected and it is very unlikely the healthcare provider that administered the shot would be working if they had it. Another common excuse is that I'm healthy and I never get sick. First off, saying something like that is tempting karma and the truth is anyone can catch the flu. Yes, those with lowered immune systems due to age or illness are at a higher risk, but why take chances when there's no cure.

The CDC recommends that everyone older than 6 months of age get a flu shot every year. People younger than 2 or older than 49, pregnant women, people with egg allergies and anyone with a history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome should speak with a doctor before being vaccinated. However, even if you don't want to get the flu shot for yourself, get it for someone you care about. The flu vaccine is the only protection we have from epidemic-like transmissions of the disease. Moreover, everyone who does get a flu shot helps protect the community from a widespread occurrence.

If you have questions, contact us to schedule an appointment with a board-certified physician at either PrimeMED location. Experts agree that getting a flu shot at any time is better than not getting one at all.