For example, it's unclear if rhinovirus can make a bout with flu worse, says Chu. “The flu can trigger heart attacks, strokes, and severe pneumonia, not to mention cause death—and while it’s rare, that can happen even if you’re young and healthy.” In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 410,000 to 740,000 people went to the hospital last year because of the flu and 24,000 to 62,00 people died. These side effects may start shortly after getting the shot and can last up to 2 days. And right now, hospitals are already seeing that strain due to COVID-19. You won't have to buy any of this stuff if you don't get the flu (and getting your shot is the best way to avoid it). The flu vaccine comes in needle-free options. “We saw in China last year that people who had both were much sicker than those who had only one of the illnesses.”. The points that could be spent to gain protection in the game represented the kinds of intangible costs that might prevent people from getting vaccinated in the real world – things like a fear of needles, worries about side effects, the time and effort needed to get to the clinic or even the money required to get a shot. A fear of needles is no reason not to get the flu vaccine. Here’s why: It’s easy to confuse COVID-19 and the flu. What's more, when RSV levels in a population tend to be high, levels of flu tend to be low, and vice versa. Not all flu vaccines are alike, so how do you know which one’s for you? Not everyone agrees on that. 6. While doctors will tell you the most effective way to prevent the flu – yes, you do need a flu shot – they may not discuss each vaccine option in depth or all the germy details on how the virus spreads.

Listen to your body for signs that you are over-exerting yourself and do not exercise if you have a fever. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours.

“In addition, there is a decreased immune response to vaccination as a person ages, so the thought is the higher dose will provide better immunity for older individuals.”. “Seasonal flu vaccines are designed to protect against infection and illness caused by the flu viruses that research indicates will be most common during that flu season,” explains Margarita Rohr, MD, of the Joan H Tisch Center for Women’s Health at NYU Langone Medical Center.

A common myth is that it just doesn’t work that well.

Over a period of 45 days, about 50 people played the online game, which gave players daily information about how bad the situation was and how many people had fallen ill. Every day, participants received points for staying healthy and lost points for getting sick. When someone infected coughs, sneezes, or talks, they can spread the flu virus through droplets in the air that can travel up to six feet and land in the mouths or noses of others nearby. To help stay as healthy as possible, the CDC recommends getting your shot before the end of October (although if you miss that cut-off, it’s still worth getting it as soon as you can).

"Just because you test positive for the flu doesn't mean you don't have coronavirus," says Meskill. Two factors determine how well the flu vaccine works. To best protect yourself and others around you, practice good hand-washing hygiene and take other precautions like covering your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
flu viruses that research indicates will be most common during that flu season. A bad flu season can stress hospitals in normal times. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. "You should still be doing your social distancing and quarantining. And the number of circulating respiratory viruses does seem to be lower up north, too, says Chu, who has been searching for them in her city: "There's really no transmission of these other viruses going on in the community right now. Players could spend points to take protective measures that would reduce their risk of infection, or they could hold on to their points and hope for the best. Some over-the-counter nasal sprays can become addictive.
Plenty of research shows that the vaccine, while not perfect, does indeed …

“How good the match is determines the effectiveness for that particular year.” However, it is important to remember that the flu vaccine is still the best protection against the flu. Some epidemiological research shows that respiratory viruses can compete with each other in a way that means one virus can suppress the spread of another. You won't have to buy any of this stuff if you don't get the flu (and getting your shot is the best way to avoid it). Generally speaking, co-infections are common when it comes to respiratory diseases. They should not get in the way of your daily activities. The reasons why the majority of people fail to line up for flu shots, even in pandemic years, are varied, complicated and differ from person to person, experts say. Even if you don’t have a regular doctor or nurse, you can get a flu vaccine somewhere else, like a health department, pharmacy, urgent care clinic, and often your school, college health center, or workplace. The CDC recommends using soap and warm water, and rubbing hands together for 15 to 20 seconds, the amount of time it would take you to sing “Happy Birthday” twice in your head. While some forms of the flu vaccine still contain thimerosal, if you prefer, you can request a single-dose unit or the nasal spray option, both of which are thimerosal-free. severe reactions are very rare ; you can't get the flu from the flu shot ; most people have no side effects from the flu shot The Flu Vaccine Might Be Mismatched, but You Still Need Your Shot Two of the strains that dominated the Southern Hemisphere, and are therefore likely to …