Flu shots

Flu Shots

A flu shot is a vaccine designed to protect against the influenza virus, commonly known as the flu. Administered via injection, flu shots are an essential component of public health efforts to reduce the incidence and severity of influenza outbreaks. The vaccine works by stimulating the body's immune system to recognize and fight the virus, should it be encountered in the future.

Composition

Flu shots contain inactivated (killed) or weakened influenza viruses that cannot cause the flu but can prompt an immune response. The composition of flu vaccines is updated annually to match the influenza virus strains predicted to be most prevalent during the upcoming flu season. This prediction is made by the World Health Organization (WHO) and national health agencies.

Types of Flu Vaccines

There are several types of flu vaccines available, including:

• Standard-dose flu shots that are approved for use in people 6 months of age and older.
• High-dose shots and adjuvanted flu shots for older adults, designed to elicit a stronger immune response.
• Nasal spray flu vaccines (live attenuated influenza vaccines) are approved for use in certain age groups, typically between the ages of 2 and 49.

Effectiveness

The effectiveness of flu shots can vary from year to year, depending on the match between the vaccine strains and the circulating strains of the virus. However, numerous studies have shown that flu vaccination can significantly reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death.

Recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older, with few exceptions. Vaccination is particularly important for people at high risk of serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions, and individuals 65 years and older.

Safety

Flu shots are generally safe for most people. Common side effects are mild and can include soreness at the injection site, low-grade fever, and muscle aches. Severe allergic reactions are rare.

Misconceptions

There are several misconceptions about flu shots, such as the belief that they can cause the flu. This is not possible with inactivated flu vaccines or the recombinant flu vaccine, as they do not contain live virus.

Conclusion

Flu shots are a key preventive measure against the influenza virus, contributing to individual health and community well-being. By reducing the spread of the virus, flu vaccinations help protect vulnerable populations and reduce the burden on healthcare systems.

‎

---

Translate: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, தமிழ், తెలుగు, Urdu, ಕನ್ನಡ, Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, বাংলা
European español, Deutsch, français, Greek, português do Brasil, polski, română, русский, Nederlands, norsk, svenska, suomi, Italian
Middle Eastern & African عربى, Turkish, Persian, Hebrew, Afrikaans, isiZulu, Kiswahili,
Other Bulgarian, Hungarian, Czech, Swedish, മലയാളം, मराठी, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ, ગુજરાતી, Portuguese, Ukrainian