Are You Ready to Get A Flu Shot?

The vaccine has been found to reduce hospitalizations among people with diabetes and chronic lung disease. It reduces the risk of acute respiratory infection associated with the flu by about half.

Influenza (Flu) season is approaching and health professionals recommend that you get vaccinated against influenza; because the vaccine can reduce the risk of hospitalization associated with the disease. The recommendation is based on a study published in 2016 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which showed that those 50 and older who received a flu shot reduced their risk of being hospitalized by 57 percent.

The flu shot is an important preventative for people with chronic illnesses. The vaccine has been found to reduce hospitalizations among people with diabetes and chronic lung disease. It reduces the risk of acute respiratory infection associated with the flu by about half. But in addition, the vaccine helps protect women during and after pregnancy and protects the developing baby during pregnancy and for several months after birth.

The flu shot can lessen your symptoms if you get sick. Vaccination protects not only you, but also the people around you who are more vulnerable to serious flu illnesses, such as infants, young children, the elderly, and people with certain chronic conditions.     

Disease control and prevention studies show that the vaccine reduces the risk of getting the flu by between 50 and 60 percent. The effectiveness of the vaccine can vary from season to season. 

Age and health are factors that play an important role in determining how likely the vaccine is to provide protection.

The seasonal flu vaccine protects against flu viruses that research suggests will be the most common during the upcoming season. Traditional flu vaccines known as “trivalent” vaccines are designed to protect against three flu viruses; an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus, and an influenza B virus. There are also flu vaccines designed to protect against four flu viruses called “quadrivalent” vaccines. These vaccines protect against the same viruses as the trivalent vaccine and an additional B virus.

CDC recommends the use of injectable flu vaccines, including inactivated flu vaccines and recombinant flu vaccines during 2016-2017.

 All Adults Are At Risk!

All adults are at risk for diseases that vaccines can prevent. You can protect your health,  and often the health of those around you, by getting vaccinated. The flu season begins in October, and the earlier you get vaccinated, the better you and your loved ones will be protected.

Each year, more than 56,000 Americans die from Influenza and Pneumonia combined. 90% of these deaths are age 65+, and near 1 in every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime. On the other way, more than 200,000 people go to the hospital each year due to the flu.

Influenza, Pneumonia, and Shingles can be prevented by Vaccination, but vaccination rates among adults remain well below national recommendations. Many patients are unaware of the risks associated with vaccine-preventable diseases and report not receiving immunization recommendations from their health care professionals.

-Adults aged 18-64 with medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease are at greater risk of contracting influenza and pneumonia and hence have a greater need for immunizations.

-Influenza and Pneumonia are the 8th leading cause of death in the U.S. (CDC, 2016). 

-Influenza and pneumonia are the 5th leading cause of death in the U.S. for those 65 and older. 

-Almost 90 percent of all deaths from influenza occur in adults aged 65 and older. 

-2020 goals include reducing the incidence and prevalence of these diseases, which would also lead to a decrease in  health care costs. 

-2020 goal is to have a 90 percent immunization rate for both influenza and pneumonia in patients 65 and older.

Millions in the US are at high risk for developing flu complications

For high-risk patients, the dangers of the flu are even greater, leading to serious complications and even death. Because of the common cold and the flu share similar symptoms, it can be difficult to distinguish between these two illnesses. 

For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636).