Flu shots... the facts

Every year a new flu shot is born. There are many myths about flu shots and so my goal is to give you the facts.
The flu comes from infection with the influenza virus. Once your body is infected with a virus, your immune system gets to work at attacking and killing the virus that infected you. Your body then has special cells that remember that virus so if it was to enter your body again, your body could kill it before it makes you sick. At this point you re considered immune to that virus. Viruses however, mutate so your body cannot recognize them. the different mutations are called "strains". So even though you had the flu last year, you can get a different strain this year. This is why a new vaccine comes out every year.
Microbiologists work hard every year to make an "educated guess" on how the virus will mutate each year. This means that you will be vaccinated against the 3 virus strains that they believe will be the most common or problematic but you are still at risk to get ill from a less common or weaker strain.
Who should receive the flu vaccine?
Children, elderly,and those who take corticosteroids often have weak or undeveloped immune systems. They are at highest risk to develop complications if infected with the flu. People with asthma are also more likely to develop complications. The CDC suggests that the flu vaccine is safe for everyone over 6 months of age. You should use wisdom and discretion when deciding whether or not to receive the vaccine. If you work with children, elderly, or hospitalized patients, it may be a good idea to get a flu shot to prevent the spread of the flu virus to these people. You should consult your doctor before receiving one to see if it is right for you. You should not receive the flu shot if you are allergic to eggs or a product called Thimerosol. If you have had a bad reaction to a flu shot before then you should not receive one again.
Can the flu vaccine give me the flu?
Nope. The viruses in the vaccine are "dead" and are incapable of causing illness. It is simply introducing the "shape" into your body so that your body can attack it and keep it in its memory to protect you should the real virus be introduced to your body. People have reported pain and muscle soreness or redness in the arm where the vaccine was injected. This is common and should go away within approx. 24 hours.
Where can I go to get a flu shot?
You can always visit your doctor's office but if you want to avoid the waiting room and bill then you can go to your local pharmacy. They cost approx. $25 and trained professionals administer the vaccine. I have also seen booths at Walmart advertising the flu shot.

Again, the flu shot is not for everyone. Consult your doctor before making your decision. I would encourage you to visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's website to obtain more information specific to your needs.

Next post we'll discuss how to prevent getting sick and ways to boost your immune system.

Let me be your nurse!

Welcome to the Handy Nurse blog!I am a registered nurse with experience in pediatrics, geriatrics, and everywhere in between. Every week (maybe even every day, depending on my motivation), I will write a new post about something medical related that people wonder about. Sometimes it will be based off of a question from a follower and other times it will just be something pertaining to the time or season. It will be a fun place to learn how to keep up your health, and have questions answered by a nurse without the waiting room and the bill. Feel free to email me with any questions! My email: handynurse@gmail.com. You can also ask a question in the comments of a post. If you have any ideas of what I should write about then I would love to hear those too! The goals is to give you access to a personal, handy nurse. You see, if you have a smart phone, then it is like having a nurse inn your pocket. If you have a lap top, it is like having a nurse on your lap. desk top computers...you get the picture.