The Importance of Getting Your Flu Shot Early

As different variants of the coronavirus continue to be a health challenge, you want to stay as healthy as possible so your body can fight the virus in case you do come down with it. Do you get a flu shot annually? It’s especially important now. 

The cold and flu season is about to begin. The flu weakens your immune system, as does the coronavirus, and the current coronavirus strain is extremely contagious. You want all the protection you can get against both viruses. The best way to do that is to stay up to date on vaccinations for both. 

Our board-certified team at LIfe Point Medical, led by Timothy Scott Beck, MD, focuses on preventive care to keep you healthy. We provide vaccinations as part of our professional services. 

Should everyone get a flu shot? 

Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu shot annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You need a shot every year because flu strains are different each year. The shot you received last year won’t be effective. 

Babies under 6 months old and anyone with severe allergies to the solution in the flu shot should not receive it. Everyone else should be vaccinated.

Why should I get the flu shot now? 

By getting your flu shot now, you’re helping to slow the spread of this virus. Staff in many hospitals are still battling the coronavirus; doctors and nurses are stretched thin. 

And the flu shot won’t protect you from the flu immediately. It takes at least two weeks after vaccination for your body to produce enough antibodies to protect you from the flu. Getting your flu shot now helps protect you and others around you. 

Will I get sick from the flu shot? 

No. That’s a common myth. The shot offers protection; it doesn’t make you sick. The vaccine is developed from dead viruses or a single gene of a virus. A dead virus doesn’t make you sick. Single-gene vaccines create an immune response but don’t make you ill. 

If you do have any reaction to the flu shot, it is a side effect, not an illness. You might experience mild side effects such as soreness in the arm where you got the shot or mild swelling. You might also feel tired or have a few muscle aches the next day, but they dissipate quickly. 

Don’t wait until flu season is in full swing. Call us at Life Point Medical in Clayton, Georgia, or book an appointment online today for your annual flu shot.