Every year influenza comes around. Often when people talk about having the flu, they mean a stomach virus or other illness. True influenza is a potentially deadly disease. It causes high fever, stomach problems, respiratory problems, and body aches and pains.
Every year the flu kills hundreds, if not thousands, of people around the world. Flu victims are generally the very young, the elderly, and people with underlying health issues. Because of this, each year government agencies and doctors recommend that people get flu shots. The question each person needs to ask themselves is "Should I get a flu shot?" Here are some reasons why getting a flu shot is a good idea:
- Getting the flu vaccine is good for not only you, but for society in general. There is something called "herd immunity." This means that as more people get the vaccination, more people are safe. If one person gets the shot, then their family members and anyone they come into contact with will be safer, and so on.
- The vaccine is safe. The influenza shot is an inactivated vaccine. This means that the flu cells are dead. The nasal spray is a weakened virus. It isn't possible to catch the flu from either version of the vaccination.
- You will be protected from the most likely strains of influenza. Each year the CDC, along with doctors, study the flu. They decide which versions of the flu, like H1N1, are likely to be common. They then create a vaccine using those versions.
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