Fun Flu Vaccine Facts

According to the National Institutes of Health, influenza is a respiratory infection caused by a number of viruses which pass through the air and enter the body through the mouth or nose. It is estimated that roughly 5% and 20% of all Americans will contract the flu each year. While the flu may be little more than an unavoidable annoyance indicative of the cooler months for some people, for the elderly, newborn babies, and adults with certain chronic illnesses, the flu is serious and can even be deadly.

Therefore, in light of the fact that a large percentage of Americans will get the flu this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that the week after Thanksgiving, November 27 to December 2, as National Influenza Vaccination Week. Because the flu vaccine is the main way to keep one from getting the flu, this weeklong event is aimed at highlighting the importance of continuing flu vaccinations, as well as encouraging the public to get vaccinated during the months of November, December, and beyond.

Here are a few facts about the flu and the flu vaccine:

1. Flu season runs from October through May, and the best months to be vaccinated are October and November.
2. The injected vaccine actually contains a killed virus, and is recommended for those over the age of 6 months.
3. The nasal form of the vaccine (sometimes called LAIV for “Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine”) is made from a weakened virus and is recommended for those between the ages of 2-49, but not recommended for pregnant women.
4. Two weeks after receiving the flu vaccine, your body has developed the antibodies needed to protect itself against certain strains of the flu virus.
5. While you cannot get the flu from a flu vaccine, you may experience minor side effects such as aches, pains, a low-grade fever, and swelling. As well, you cannot develop the flu from the nasal spray vaccine, but headaches and sore throats are possible side effects.
6. Each flu vaccine contain three flue viruses: one A (H3N2) virus; one A (H1N1) virus, and one B virus. The viruses in the vaccine change every year based on international surveillance and scientists’ estimations about which types and strains of viruses will be circulated in a given year.

In addition to getting the flu vaccine, you can prevent influenza symptoms by improving your hygeine, eating a diet rich in whole foods, using supplements containing probiotics, getting additional sleep, reducing stress, and by improving your indoor air quality through sufficient ventilation and/or with the use of an air purifier with HEPA filtration.