The Flu Shot: Take It or Leave It?
megabeln
Posts: 36 Member
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that children between 6 months and 18 years of age get a flu shot every year, preferably as soon as the vaccine is available (usually in September). Kids over 2 years of age can opt for the nasal spray form of the vaccine if they don’t have asthma. Check with your doctor if your child has any medical conditions or if he or she has experienced a severe reaction to a flu vaccine in the past.
The flu vaccine is also recommended for all adults, especially if you have a chronic illness or a weak immune system, if you work in a health care setting, or if you live with or care for anyone at high risk of complications if they get the flu—such as children under age 6 and elderly people. However, a flu shot is not recommended if you’re allergic to eggs, if you had an allergic reaction to a previous flu shot, or if you’re ill. If you’ve ever had Guillain-Barre syndrome, check with your doctor.
There’s no live virus in a flu shot, so you can’t catch the flu from it. However, some people forget that it doesn’t take full effect for two weeks, so they become over-confident about associating with people who have the flu before they’re fully protected. The minor achiness that can result from a flu shot is not the flu.
The flu vaccine is also recommended for all adults, especially if you have a chronic illness or a weak immune system, if you work in a health care setting, or if you live with or care for anyone at high risk of complications if they get the flu—such as children under age 6 and elderly people. However, a flu shot is not recommended if you’re allergic to eggs, if you had an allergic reaction to a previous flu shot, or if you’re ill. If you’ve ever had Guillain-Barre syndrome, check with your doctor.
There’s no live virus in a flu shot, so you can’t catch the flu from it. However, some people forget that it doesn’t take full effect for two weeks, so they become over-confident about associating with people who have the flu before they’re fully protected. The minor achiness that can result from a flu shot is not the flu.
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