Flu Shot Season
Now is the time to get a flu shot.
Each year there are stories about people catching the flu and getting sick; some people even die from it. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are new strains of the flu coming out every year, which could make the epidemic worse. In 2010, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices advised that everyone, six months of age and older, get the annual flu vaccine.
Influenza (the medical name for the flu) is a respiratory infection that can cause serious complications, particularly to young children and to older adults. The CDC says getting the flu shot is important because it can protect you from catching the flu and any related complications.
Even healthy people and young adults can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others. It can be passed on to someone else, even before the person is aware that he or she has the flu, as well as while one is sick.
“For those who have asthma, bronchitis, diabetes, and other illnesses, without getting the vaccination, it can lead to pneumonia or make their illness worse,” a local pharmacist, who didn’t want her name used, said. “If one has a weak immune system, such as those with cancer and AIDS, it is important for them to get the flu shot.”
The pharmacist recommended getting a flu shot as soon as possible to ensure protection from any known and unknown complications, before it’s too late. The flu shot is available at most pharmacies, with or without insurance, for a reasonable price. One could also check with a doctor’s office to see if flu shots are available.
Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, email@example.com