It is that time of year again…there is a crispness to the air. Leaves are changing color. Influenza season is getting ready to start. Yes, fall is here which means it is time to think about influenza and how you and your family can avoid falling ill this season.
According to both the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics, everyone over the age of 6 months should get a seasonal influenza vaccine, including household contacts and care givers of children under the age of 5 and those with high risk conditions. Those at high risk for developing complications from the flu are young kids, pregnant women and people with asthma, heart disease, diabetes and compromised immunity.
Here are some key facts about the flu vaccine:
- It does NOT cause the flu. The most common side effect seen is pain and tenderness around the site of the injection. Fever is more common in children under 2 years old and less likely to be seen in older kids and adults.
- It takes about 2 weeks for your body to start to develop antibodies against the virus, so plan to get the vaccine soon.
- The flu mist (intranasal) is approved for kids 2 years and older. This vaccine is a live-attentuated vaccine, meaning that it is a weakened form of the influenza virus. It may cause runny nose, headache, or sore throat.
- Each year the CDC attempts to predict which strains of the influenza virus will be the most virulent and generate the vaccine based on either 3 strains for the trivalent (2 strains of type A and 1 strain of type B) or 4 strains for the quadrivalent (2 strains of type A and 2 strains of type B).
- If you get a dose of the flu vaccine and still develop signs and symptoms of the flu, your case may be more mild.
Call the office today at 972-608-0774 to schedule your flu vaccine. We have 4 flu clinics coming up in October and November.
Sat. Oct. 17 9-12pm
Tues. Oct 20 4:30-5:30pm
Wed. Oct. 28 4:30-5:30pm
Thurs. Nov. 5 4:30-5:30pm
Sat. Nov. 14 9-12pm