All products and services featured are selected by our editors. Â Find out the anxiety disorder symptoms experts say you should pay attention to, and how to know if you're having an anxiety attack. Â © Copyright 2020 Meredith Corporation. Other Answers On: Home ANSWER Flu viruses change every year, so flu vaccines must change, too. The vaccine must be tweaked every year because influenza viruses are constantly changing and mutating.
Luckily, the flu shot protects against and lessens these symptoms so if you do catch the flu, you’ll feel better than someone who went sans flu shot.If these reasons aren't enough to convince you to go ahead and get that flu shot, here are a few more: the flu shot protects those around you who physically cannot get the shot themselves, flu vaccines can protect you from other diseases, and you can’t contract the flu just from getting the vaccine. And in fact, the vaccine prevents thousands of deaths every year. Receiving the vaccine from April allows protection from the flu to develop well ahead of the peak transmission period, which usually falls around July and August. Doctors explain how to tell if you have a head cold or something more serious that requires medical attention, such as the flu, strep throat, meningitis, or mono. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: "Flu (Influenza): What Are Seasonal Flu, Avian (Bird) Flu and Pandemic Flu?" If you get your flu shot, you’ll be better protected from what’s out there and trust us, you want to be protected. FDA/CFAN: "What consumers need to know about avian influenza." Most years, the vaccine cuts your chance of catching the flu in half , but it’s hard to get much better odds than that from it. "I'm petrified," the actress said when she shared the news that her breast cancer came back. So what are you waiting for? GlaxoSmithKline. However, it drastically reduces your chances of getting it (and passing it on to others), and it lessens the severity of symptoms if you are infected with the virus. According to the CDC, there are over 100 national influenza centers in over 100 countries worldwide that conduct year-round surveillance for the flu, every year. When you get vaccinated, your immune system produces antibodies to protect you from the viruses included in the vaccine.
Antigenic drift is the main reason why people can get the flu more than one time, and it’s also a primary reason why the flu vaccine composition must be reviewed and updated each year (as needed) to keep up with evolving influenza viruses. American Academy of Family Physicians: "Bird Flu (Avian Flu)." (For an in depth visual explanation, check out the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s Staying up to date on your vaccinations each year will provide a complete siege wall to stave off the flu. In a bad year, the seasonal flu vaccine reduces the risk of flu illness by only 20% to 30% in the overall population. The results of this analysis, published September 13, 2016 in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, reinforce the idea that surveillance for developing new, seasonal vaccines should be focused on areas of east, south and southeast Asia where population size and community dynamics can increase transmission of endemic strains of the flu. Each year, the flu vaccine which is doled out is the most prevalent strain threatening the public at that time, so your previous season’s flu more than likely will not cut it. With every seasonal mirth comes a seasonal malady. While influenza can give you these cold symptoms, you could also have more serious issues like severe fatigue, high fever, and dizziness. Antigenic drift is the main reason why people can get the flu more than one time, and it’s also a primary reason why the flu vaccine composition must be reviewed and updated each year (as needed) to keep up with evolving influenza viruses. Health.com is part of the Meredith Health Group. Stay in your living room and still spike your heart rate. Why Do You Need to Get a Flu Vaccine Each Year? Flu symptoms are much worse than typical cold symptoms like a runny nose and sore throat. Here's the truth about lying. Antigenic Shift. Hopefully we will one day have a universal flu vaccine that covers all flu strains and offers longer lasting protection. If you’ve already had the flu and think you’re immune to another bout, think again: every year, there are two or three strains of the flu making their way around, so chances are, you could catch the bug again. different strains of the flu virus mutate over time and replace the older strains of the virus. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Flu attacks.