Getting a seasonal flu shot can help protect you against the seasonal flu virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting the shot every year. Flu season in the U.S. starts in September and ends in April. The flu shot reduces your risk of contracting the viruses that cause influenza. It prevents about 7.5 million flu cases each year and an estimated 6,800 deaths.
Let us take a look at a few things that patients should know about the flu virus and how it works.
One of the most prevalent myths about the flu shot is that it can give people the flu because it contains the live virus. That is not the way that the vaccine works. It is made using dead or inactive strains of the influenza A and B viruses, so there is no way that the vaccine can lead to a person becoming infected with the flu.
The vaccine is typically injected into a patient’s arms, and it triggers a response from their immune system. The immune system reacts by building antibodies to fight these specific flu strains. The immune system’s response can lead to side effects like muscle aches, fever, nausea, and headaches. In extremely rare cases, a patient might have an allergic reaction to the virus.
Influenza A and B strains are complex infections that are constantly evolving, so some people who get the flu shot might still end up getting the flu. That does not mean the shot is ineffective; it simply means the vaccine did not protect against that specific strain of the A or B virus.
Influenza can lead to complications, especially in kids, pregnant women, and children. However, the vaccine protects patients from about 60% of the viruses that cause the flu.
While COVID-19 and the seasonal flu share similarities, these infections are caused by two different viruses. Unfortunately, that means the flu shot cannot protect against COVID-19 and vice versa.
A person can be infected by both viruses simultaneously, which increases the risk of complications. Getting vaccinated for both viruses gives people the highest level of protection against contracting a severe illness, needing hospitalization, or dying.
This is why the CDC recommends getting a flu shot every year. Like all viruses, influenza is constantly evolving, so there are always new strains to be vaccinated against. Annual flu vaccines are developed to protect against the strains of viruses expected to be most common that year. That means last year’s vaccine will probably not protect someone against the new strains that have developed since then.
Do you need a flu shot? Stop by our Woodbridge clinic to give us a call to set up an appointment.
Request an appointment here: https://hillendale.millenniummedicalcare.com or call Millennium Medical Care Woodbridge at (703) 945-1942 for an appointment in our Woodbridge office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Flu Shot in Woodbridge, VA.
HIV testing can help patients understand their current health and prevent spreading the virus to others. Although there continues to be a stigma around HIV, urgent care and primary care providers work hard to make the patient comfortable throughout the testing process. Looking into the basics of HIV and routine testing can reveal how vital…
Pregnancy testing gives patients certainty about whether they are expecting. If unsure, an urgent care or primary care provider can administer these tests with a smaller margin of error than over-the-counter pregnancy tests. Although the process is straightforward, it is normal to have questions heading into the appointment. Exploring the answers to some of the…
Birth control contains hormones that can serve as contraception, acne treatment, or help manage conditions like endometriosis and PCOS. No matter the reason you are searching for “birth control near me,” you likely have several options to sift through. Knowing the basics of each option and its efficacy can help you narrow down the search…
Urgent care clinics are healthcare facilities that treat immediate medical needs. Sometimes, people have medical issues that, while not emergencies, still need to be addressed right away. An urgent care is the place to go when a nonemergency medical need arises that cannot wait for an appointment.These facilities fill the gap between one’s regular doctor…
Regular testing is essential for early detection and prevention of HIV transmission. It also makes…
Pregnancy testing gives patients certainty about whether they are expecting.
Birth control options continue to change as laws and regulations develop. However, most areas still…
An urgent care is the place to go when a nonemergency medical need arises that…
The flu can be much more severe than people imagine, and the flu shot may…
At Millennium Medical Care Woodbridge, we work to make STD testing as painless as possible,…
