The flu, short for “influenza” is an acute respiratory infection caused by a variety of influenza viruses. Influenza symptoms include high fevers, acute sore throats, chronic coughing, enervating fatigue and painful body aches. Flue viruses can be found across the globe and affect around five million people every year, resulting in over 700,000 deaths.
Most people recover without treatment but there is always a danger, especially if the person already suffers from other serious health conditions. Influenza is easy to spread because the virus is airborne traveling from one person to the next when they sneeze or cough.
The flu represents a major health risk to a wide range of people and steps to prevent the transmission and spread of the disease are undertaken globally. It is highly recommended that people take advantage of workplace flu vaccinations or those offered at schools, hospitals, and other public health stations. The more people who have the shot the fewer the number of people who fall victim to the virus. Here are some more good reasons why you should get your flu shots every year:
Health Complications
Having a case of the flu puts you at risk of developing some serious complications that may result in hospitalization. These include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, sinus infections, ear infections and greater susceptibility to chronic illnesses. Flu is a very serious health risk that in some serious cases can even lead to death so getting your flu shot may just save your life!
Needle-Free Flu Vaccines
A great number of people are afraid of vaccinations because of the needles used and use that excuse to avoid getting their flu shots. Fortunately, there is now a solution to this, needle-free flu vaccines! One version is in the form of a nasal spray that can be administered to healthy people between the ages of 2 and 49 who don’t suffer from asthma and who are not pregnant.
The other needle-free vaccine is an intradermal shot safe for people between the ages of 18 to 64 that targets the area between the layers of skin with a minute needle. People who have received this type of vaccination report that they can barely feel it at all.
Flu Shots Don’t Make You Sick
There is unfortunately a commonly held misconception that having a flu vaccination can actually infect you with the virus! This is entirely false, you cannot catch the flu from the shot, it is medically impossible because the vaccination utilizes a deceased form of the virus to bolster your immunity.
Herd Immunity
The way this works is that if everyone is immunized to the flu because they received their vaccinations then we are all protected, no one will be able to get the flu, and the virus won’t be able to spread, resulting in it eventually dying off.
The Australian government has instituted a National Immunisation Program to help stop the spread of flu. Do yourself and others a favor and get your flu shots today!