A vaccine to prevent influenza, a viral respiratory illness.
Health authorities recommend the flu shot as the single best method of protection against the flu. The flu drastically reduces the body’s ability to fight other illnesses. It can lead to serious conditions like bacterial pneumonia, and worsen chronic conditions, like asthma or diabetes. It can even kill: each year 36,000 people in the United States die from the flu. The vaccine is 70 – 90% effective in healthy adults, and slightly less so in children and the elderly.
Symptoms of the flu include fever, extreme fatigue, runny or stuffy nose, dry cough, sore throat, and muscle pain. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can also occur, but are more common in children than in adults. The flu can be spread from 1 day before symptoms appear until 5 days after a person becomes sick.
Anyone who wants to minimize the risk of catching the flu should get a flu shot, preferably in October or November (although vaccination in December or later can still be beneficial). The flu shot is highly recommended for: children aged 6 months to 5 years, pregnant women, people over 50, people with chronic medical conditions, and people living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities. People with allergies to eggs should not take the vaccine.