You can help prevent influenza by getting immunized with an influenza vaccine each year, ideally in October or November. Commonly known as the "flu shot," the vaccine is given by injection. This form of the vaccine effectively prevents most cases of the flu, although success rates vary according to age, health status, and how closely the virus strains contained in the vaccine match those that are circulating through the population.
Even if a flu shot does not prevent the flu, the vaccine can reduce the severity of flu symptoms and decrease the risk of complications. Studies have found that the flu shot results in fewer days missed from work and fewer visits to a doctor for respiratory infections, and reduces the number of people who develop complications from the flu, such as pneumonia.
In spite of these results, many people choose not to get a flu shot. Some do not get the shot because of myths they believe about the flu or the vaccine. The flu shot may cause side effects in some people, but they are usually minor and do not last long.
An alternative to the flu shot is now available. In 2003, the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a nasal spray flu vaccine.
This vaccine, called FluMist, is available to healthy children and
adults between ages 5 and 49 years. The nasal spray vaccine contains
components of live viruses. To avoid the risk of transmitting the
flu, vaccination with the inactivated virus (flu shot) is preferred
over the nasal spray vaccine for close contacts of people with severely
impared immune system during times when a protected environment is
needed. If the nasal spray vaccine is used, contact with anyone in
this high-risk group should be avoided for 7 days. For close contacts
of people in all other high-risk categories, vaccination with either
the flu shot or nasal spray is considered safe.
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