When I turned 50 three years ago I started getting a yearly flu shot. I haven't had the flu in several years, so maybe it's working.
But have you ever wondered why the shot is so important that doctors, employers and even grocery stores remind us when it's time?
The website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov) offers a lot of valuable information on that subject.
The reason getting a shot is a good idea, the CDC says, is because influenza can lead to hospitalization and even death. It is no respecter of weight, looks, intelligence or perceived importance.
Flu season can begin as early as October and last as late as May. An annual vaccine is the best way to reduce the chances we'll get sick, the CDC says.
So how do flu vaccines work?
The injected vaccine stimulates the body's immune system to make antibodies that will attack the flu virus. Antibodies are proteins that recognize and fight off germs, such as viruses, that have invaded our blood. If we are exposed to the flu virus after we've had the vaccine, in theory, our immune system will recognize the virus and produce antibodies to fight it.
The vaccine does not cause us to get the flu. There are viruses in the vaccine that stimulate the development of antibodies but they have either been "inactivated" or are weakened enough that they cannot cause illness.
There can be side effects of the shot itself though, like a little soreness, fever and aches, but they should be mild and short-lasting.
In recent years, an inhalable mist has been offered for people who can't or won't take shots, but this season, the CDC recommends everyone get an injection. They suggest an annual dose for everyone 6 months old and older.
Different flu vaccines are approved for use in different groups of people. Factors include a person's age, health (current and past) and possible allergies to the vaccine. (If you have questions about which vaccine is best for you, consult your doctor.)
The shots are offered in many places including doctors' offices, clinics, health departments, pharmacies, college health centers and at some schools or places of employment.
SHOT IN THE ARM
They are offered at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette once a year. With our insurance we pay nothing out of pocket -- an added bonus. While I was in the Personnel Department putting my name on the sign-up sheet, one of the ladies in the department and I discussed the option of a shot or the nasal spray. She told me that her mother, who is diabetic, was instructed by her doctor not to use the spray or mist version.
I wondered why, so I reached out to the folks at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and was put in touch with Dr. Robert Hopkins, director of the division of general internal medicine.
Hopkins says that while flu vaccination is important for patients with diabetes, the flu mist is not recommended this season due to lower potency than injectable vaccines over the past two seasons. If lowered potency was not such an issue, Hopkins said, the mist would be fine for anyone from age 2 to 49.
And there is no difference in the recommendation for diabetics, Type 1 or Type 2.
Part of the problem for diabetics, the CDC website says, is that their immune systems are often less able to fight infections. The flu can make chronic health problems (such as diabetes) worse and make it harder to control blood sugar, too.
If you do find yourself with flu-like symptoms, the doctor can prescribe antiviral drugs. Treatment should begin as soon as possible, or at least within 48 hours after symptoms start. Medications can make the illness milder, help us feel better faster and may prevent serious health problems.
And if you can, stay home from work -- for everyone's sake.
Email me at:
rboggs@arkansasonline.com
ActiveStyle on 09/26/2016