Why Get a Flu Shot?
CHAS Health recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older get an annual flu shot to lower the risk of getting the flu and limit flu exposure to others.
Seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October and continue as late as May. People of all ages can catch the flu, and now more than ever, no one wants to expose others to illness-causing germs.
For the flu season, the American Academy of Pediatrics Recommends the following for the flu vaccine.
- Flu vaccine for ages 6 months and older who do not have a medical contraindication. Such as an allergy to the flu shot or flu component (not including egg)
- Flu vaccine should be offered to children as soon as it becomes available, especially to those recommended to receive two doses. The recommended dose(s) ideally should be received by the end of October for optimal protection before the flu season.
- Flu vaccine is recommended for pregnant individuals to benefit both them and their infants.
- Flu vaccine of a breastfeeding parent is safe and provides protection to both the parent and the infant.
- Flu vaccine of immunocompromised patients are updated to align with evidence-based recommendations from other groups and professional societies.
Flu Vaccine Online Scheduling
CHAS Health offers convenient online scheduling for in-clinic flu vaccinations! Click below to make an appointment!
Flu Myths vs Flu Facts
FLU MYTHS:
MYTH: Vaccines are not prove to prevent the flu
MYTH: The flu vaccine can give me the flu
MYTH: I should wait to get vaccinated so I'm covered until the end of the season
MYTH: The flu shot will protect me from every type of flu virus
MYTH: I never get the flu. I do not need the flu shot.
FLU FACTS:
FACT: You are at least 60% less likely to become infected with the flu virus
- FACT: Flu birueses in flu shots are inactivated, so they annot cause infection
FACT: Get the vaccine as soon as possible. It takes two weeks for antibodies to develop
FACT: The flu shot is designed yearly to protect agaisnt the highest risk/actively circulating strains of influenza
FACT: By getting the flu vaccine, you protect yourself and othes becasue you are less likely to spread the flu
For more information about the flu season visit healthychildren.org.Illnesses are a normal part of life for both adults and children, but they are no fun to experience. We can’t keep ourselves or our children home for every sniffle and sneeze, yet we want to minimize the spread of germs to others. That’s why getting an annual flu shot is so very important.
For more information about the flu season visit healthychildren.org.
