Fast Facts on National Influenza Vaccine Week!
National flu vaccine week is being observed this year December 6th-12th. This is a preparedness initiative created by the CDC to promote and educate the public on the benefits of the flu vaccine. Please note that not all individuals are medically able to get a flu shot. Please talk to your primary health care provider to determine if the flu vaccine is right for you.
Below are some fast facts on the benefits of the flu vaccine.
Benefits
- Flu vaccine prevents millions of illnesses and flu-related doctor’s visits each year.
- Flu vaccine prevents tens of thousands of hospitalizations each year.
- Flu vaccination has been associated with lower rates of some cardiac events among people with heart disease, especially among those who have had a cardiac event in the past year.
- A 2017 study was the first of its kind to show that flu vaccination can significantly reduce a child’s risk of dying from flu.
How the Vaccine Works:
Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are used to make the vaccine.
Who Should Not Get the Vaccine
- Children younger than 6 months of age are too young to get a flu shot.
- People with severe, life-threatening allergies to flu vaccine or any ingredient in the vaccine.
Does Getting the Flu Vaccine Increase your Risk of COVID-19?
There is no evidence that getting a flu vaccine increases your risk of getting sick from a coronavirus, like the one that causes COVID-19.
You may have heard about a study published in January 2020 that reported an association between flu vaccination and risk of four commonly circulating seasonal coronaviruses, but not the one that causes COVID-19. This report was later found to be incorrect.
(From CDC’s Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccines)
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm