Flu Season October..Flu Shot Recommendations and Why It's Like Knowing the Opposing Team's Game Plan

Flu Season Starts in October ..Recommendations for Who Should Get a Flu Shot

Why is Getting a Flu Shot Like Knowing the Opposing Team's Game Plan ?

Flu is a virus. There are different strains or forms of the virus. The flu virus,  influenza, keeps changing.

There are a number of vaccines that are available to help protect you. Vaccines work by exposing your body's immune system to a weaker form of the disease. This exposure causes your body's immune system to  build up a defense system. Then if you are exposed to flu,  your body  is ready to defend itself.

When Should I Get Vaccinated with Flu Vaccine?

The Center for Disease Control recommends that people get vaccinated against influenza as soon as flu season vaccine becomes available in their community. Influenza seasons are unpredictable, and can begin as early as October.

Why is a New Flu Shot Needed Every Year?

A new flu vaccine shot is needed every year. The flu viruses keep changing. Every year scientists formulate a new flu vaccine based on the predicted flu viruses. Seasonal flu vaccine protects against what are predicted to be the three most common flu viruses. Because every year the flu viruses keep changing the scientists have to keep reformulating the flu vaccine. If you want the details.



"On February 23, 2012 the World Health Organization recommended that the Northern Hemisphere's 2012-2013 seasonal influenza vaccine be made from the following three vaccine viruses:

an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;

an A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)-like virus;

a B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like virus (from the B/Yamagata lineage of viruses)".

Who is the Flu Vaccine Especially Important For?

The CDC says that people who have medical conditions like asthma, chronic lung conditions and asthma need the flu vaccine. People over 65. They also say pregnant women should get flu vaccine.



You can see a detailed list of who by clicking this

Who Should Get Vaccinated for Flu

According to the CDC Who Should Not Get Flu Vaccination Without First Consulting a Doctor?

There are some people who should not get a flu vaccine without first consulting a physician. These include:



People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.

People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination.

Children younger than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group), and

People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated.)

People with a history of Guillain–Barré Syndrome (a severe paralytic illness, also called GBS) that occurred after receiving influenza vaccine and who are not at risk for severe illness from influenza should generally not receive vaccine. Tell your doctor if you ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Your doctor will help you decide whether the vaccine is recommended for you.