Each year, up to 20% of Americans get sidelined by the flu, but you have to go into hiding to stay healthy. It’s easy to protect yourself — and your entire family — from this highly contagious illness by getting an annual flu shot.
At Prestige Physicians, our team of experienced health care professionals is ready to fight back against the flu — and all it takes is a simple flu shot. This incredibly easy step can help safeguard your health all winter long, but not if you wait until it’s too late.
Here’s what you should know about the flu shot and why you shouldn’t wait to get it.
How the flu shot works
The flu vaccine can reduce your risk of catching the virus by 40-60%. So, even though it’s not 100%, it’s still a sound bet when it comes to protecting your health. In fact, the flu shot is far more than a shot in the dark.
Each year, people are busy working in 142 national influenza centers in 113 countries around the world. Their sole purpose is to track the flu and figure out which strain will emerge from one year to the next.
These centers send their findings to five different World Health Organization Collaborating Centers for Reference and Research on Influenza, which include the United States’ very own Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twice every year, experts from each of these institutions come together to analyze the worldwide data and predict which flu strain is likely to be the most problematic.
Using this highly educated guess as a guideline, vaccine manufacturers get to work developing the right protection for your flu shot. Because of the considerable amount of work that goes into the flu shot each year, we can stay one step ahead of the viral infection by offering this important vaccine.
Protect yourself at every age
According to the CDC, everyone should get the flu vaccine, starting as early as six months of age. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, people who have an egg allergy should avoid the flu shot because eggs are an ingredient in most flu vaccines.
We also strongly recommend the flu shot for people over the age of 65 due to their weakened immune system, which leaves them more susceptible to the flu and more serious complications.
So, aside from newborns or people who have specific allergies, all members of your family can safely benefit from a flu vaccine.
Don’t wait for the flu to strike
The best way to protect your family from the flu is by getting your flu shot before winter hits. When you wait until flu season is in full swing, your risk of exposure increases. Don’t take unnecessary risks. Get your protection in place ahead of time.
To get your flu vaccine, visit our convenient location in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Contact us to schedule an appointment by calling 954-771-0611 or book an appointment online today.