Why should you get the flu vaccine?  There are scores of people yearly who are ill due to the flu AND there are thousands (or sometimes TENS of thousands) of people who die each year from influenza.

Do I get my flu vaccine?  Yes, every year!  3 years ago I still contracted the flu.  The vaccine companies do their best to guess the flu types that will be present the next flu season… and sometimes they don’t guess exactly perfectly.  I was in bed for 5 days and felt awful every moment of the five days.  But, I did not die… so I will get my vaccine yearly.

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What are the symptoms of the flu?  Flu symptoms are NOT diarrhea and vomiting.  Flu symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, muscle aches and feeling unable to get out of bed.

What are the benefits to getting the flu vaccine?  Less risk of death from the flu (Man!  That’s a great benefit!) and reduced risk of getting the flu, missed work, missing school, and reduced hospitalization rate.

Are some people more at risk for serious flu-related complications?  Yes!  Young children, pregnant women, people older than 65 and older people with asthma, heart disease and diabetes are more at risk for serious complications.

Flu vaccines can be given to anyone older than 6 months old.  There are different forms of the flu vaccine: a shot and a mist that goes in your nose.  The mist is fantastic in that it does not involve a “shot”, but this cannot be given to pregnant patients, immune compromised patients, asthmatics, and to kids between 6 months and 2 years of age.

No insurance?  Visit http://www.nevadahealthlink.com to find out about affordable health coverage options for the influenza vaccine.