Annual Vaccination Can Boost Defense Against The Flu

The Centers for Disease Control's Advisory Committee in Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends to have a yearly influenza vaccination for age 6 months and older for the 2015-2016 flu season. This prevents from acquiring flu and its spreading out throughout the community.

Influenza is one of the life-threatening infectious diseases that affect many people all around the globe. It is a serious viral infection of the respiratory tract. It can be transmitted through direct contact from inhalation of virus-laden aerosols and contaminated objects.

According to News-Medical, there are about 500 million people who died of Influenza around the world. "Over a period of 31 seasons between 1976 and 2007, estimates of flu-associated deaths in the United States range from allowing of about 3,000 to a high about 49,000 people," Dr. Anna Gotardo, a primary care physician in the United States said. "During recent flu seasons, between 80 percent and 90 percent of flu-related deaths have occurred in people 65 and older." She also advised people to have a yearly seasonal flu vaccine.

"Vaccination to prevent influenza is particularly important for people who are at high risk of serious complications from influenza," Gotardo said in her interview with Midland Reporter-Telegram. She also explained that flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body. These give shield against the infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine.

She also said that the vaccines that are available for the 2015 to 2016 flu season are the traditional trivalent flu vaccines that protect from three different flu viruses and the quadrivalent vaccines that keep against four different flu viruses.

In regards to its side effects, Dr. Anna Gotardo said that the side effects are only mild and short-lasting. For the flu shot, the side effects are redness or swelling where the shot was injected, ache, and fever. And for nasal spray side effects, headaches, runny nose, wheezing, vomiting, fever, coughing, sore throat and muscle aches might be experienced.