Last year was a bad year for the flu and the millions of people
who got it. This year, the vaccine has a new formula which can combat the
symptoms better than before.
The Health Briefs television show learns that the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control will have more than 170 million doses of the flu
vaccine at the ready. These include the traditional shot, a nasal spray, a
high-dose version for seniors, and thankfully, a needle-free injection for the
needle phobic. On average, the flu
vaccine is 50 to 60 percent effective. That means it can cut someone’s risk of
catching the flu by about half. These are good odds. One bout of the flu can
keep working people home, put seniors in the hospital and sicken children. It
can also be spread. One dose of the vaccine is good prevention.
Who should be vaccinated:
Everybody over six months of age
Seniors over age 65
Pregnant women
Children
About the Vaccine:
It protects against three or four different strains of the
flu, depending on the brand. Even if one strain mutates, the vaccine is still
the best prevention against catching it. Only half of the American public
received the flu vaccine last year. Last year, 24,000 people lost their lives to
the flu.
Health Briefs TV also notes that even if health insurance
plans may not cover the cost of the vaccine, it is still affordable. Check city
health centers to see if discounted shots are available. It should not cost
more than $40. And contrary to popular
belief, one does not get the flu from the flu vaccine. The shot contains
inactivated flu viruses. Please protect
yourself, your family and others from becoming sick with the flu. Vaccines are the best prevention against
catching devastating viruses.
