Wellness Tips: Fighting the Flu

Get ahead of flu season with these facts and prevention tips.

Ready or not, flu season is right around the corner! To help you proactively prepare, Nicole Miller, ARNP, at MercyOne Northeast Iowa answers frequently asked questions about the flu shot vaccine.

WHAT IS THE FLU SHOT?

The flu shot is a vaccine that provides immunization to the influenza virus, which can help your body fight the actual virus by helping to build antibodies. There are several different strains of influenza andmost are classified as either influenza A or B.

WHEN IS FLU SEASON, AND WHEN SHOULD I GET MY SHOT?

Flu season begins in October or November, peaks December through February and can last until May. Flu vaccinations become available after LaborDay. It’s best to get the vaccination prior to the beginning of flu season, but later vaccinations can still be effective.

WHY SHOULD I GET THE FLU SHOT?

The flu can be deadly, especially to children under the age of 5, adults over the age of 65 or those with serious other medical conditions. And even fora healthy person, the flu is just plain unpleasant!

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE STOMACH FLU AND INFLUENZA?

The stomach flu is nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and a stomach ache. Influenza mainly affects the respiratory system. Symptoms include high fever, chills, cough, fatigue, sore throat, muscle aches, runny nose or congestion and headaches.

HOW OLD SHOULD YOU BE TO GET THE SHOT?

The flu shot is recommended for everyone over theage of 6 months.

DO I NEED TO GET THE SHOT EVERY YEAR?

Yes! The flu virus is constantly changing. Every year, the composition of each immunization is reviewed and updated to predict the most predominant viruses for the coming year.

IF I GET THE FLU SHOT, CAN I STILL GET THE FLU?

The flu shot cannot cause the flu. It takes about two weeks before the shot is completely effective. Some people may experience a low-grade fever (less than 99.9 degrees F), body aches and a headache, which may be mistaken for the flu. This is the body's natural response to the inactivated virus in the vaccine.

WHAT KIND OF TREATMENT IS RECOMMENDED IF I GET THE FLU?

Influenza is not treated with antibiotics because it is caused by a virus and not bacteria. That means treatment is mainly focused on controlling symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, congestion, cough andstaying hydrated. There are a few antiviral medications, but they do not stop the flu. They can be effective in shortening the course of the virus by a few days.

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