This week (December 6–13) is National Influenza Vaccination Week. Getting vaccinated for the flu not only protects you from getting the flu but also helps prevent flu from spreading in your community and affecting those most at risk (CDC 2015).
Even if you are a healthy adult, getting the flu can take you out of work or school for several days, and some symptoms may linger for weeks afterward (UF Health 2013).
While most of the millions of people who get the flu each season recover, some people develop serious and even fatal health conditions. According to UF Health, “about 36,000 people in the U.S. die each year of problems from the flu,” and while “anyone at any age can have serious complications from the flu,” those with the greatest risk include the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and those with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.
By getting a flu vaccine, you are doing your part to prevent flu from spreading to these at-risk individuals.
Don’t know where you can get vaccinated in your area? There’s an app for that! Check out the HealthMap Vaccine Finder suggested by the Centers for Disease Control to find where the flu vaccine is available nearby.
Photo credit: Monkey Business Images/Thinkstock
References
Centers for Disease Control (CDC). 2015. “Key Facts about Seasonal Flu Vaccine.” Accessed November 13, 2015. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm
University of Florida Health. 2013. “Flu.” Accessed November 13, 2015. https://ufhealth.org/flu
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