Get Your Flu Vaccine!

Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and the influenza infection can affect people differently. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). The flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself against the flu and by getting the flu vaccine, “you are 60% less likely to need treatment for the flu by a healthcare provider” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). The flu vaccine can also lower the severity of the illness so less time lost from work or school.  To find out where to get a flu shot a person can go to flushot.healthmap.org and it will locate the closet facilities that can provide vaccines and other services  (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013).  

During the flu season viruses are traveling throughout the population. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to decrease the chances that you will get seasonal flu and diminish the chance that you will spread it to others. The Center for Disease Control recommends that people get a flu vaccination as soon as the vaccine becomes available in their area.  The more people who get vaccinated against the flu, the less the flu can spread throughout a community (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013).

Sources

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Key facts about seasonal flu vaccine. (2013, January 16). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Vaccination & Vaccine Safety. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.flu.gov/prevention-vaccination/vaccination/index.html