Flu Shot
Every year, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) releases a report on the disease burden of influenza in the US. In the period between October 2019 and April 2020, 38 million flu illnesses and 22,000 flu-related deaths were reported across the country. Influenza, or flu, is a term for the group of viral illnesses that affect people of all age groups. Although these illnesses harm sufferers mildly or severely, they also affect businesses that lose billions of dollars every year due to loss of productivity. To combat this, employers are offering flu shots or flu vaccines as part of their wellness program.
MedWay Onsite Health Solutions, Inc. is one of the trusty sources of flu vaccines in Arlington, Texas. We help employers to organize free on-site or offsite flu vaccinations. These vaccinations help minimize the risk of inner-office flu, help employees to stay healthy, and allow employers to foster healthy workplaces.
1. Why is influenza vaccination important?
Flu or influenza is one of the serious diseases that are often curable and leads to death in some extreme cases. Fever, shortness of breath, cough, fatigue, runny nose, headache, and muscle pain are a few common symptoms of flu. The symptoms may slightly differ in people, however, hundreds of thousands of sufferers are hospitalized from the disease every year. An influenza vaccination protects against the disease and reduces the death risks in high-risk individuals.
2. How does flu vaccination work in your body?
The vaccine produces antibodies within 14 days after the vaccination. These antibodies protect people against viruses used in the formulation of the vaccine. Influenza A and B are two common variants that cause flu. According to CDC, the flu vaccines help protect against four types of flu variants – two strains of influenza A virus - H3N2 virus and H1N1 virus and two strains of influenza B virus.
3. Who should take a flu shot?
CDC recommends that anyone above 6 months or older can take a flu shot. The individuals belonging to the following groups are at high risk of influenza infection.
- Children aged between 6 months and 5 years
- Pregnant women
- People taking aspirin therapy
- People with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 and above
- People with chronic medical conditions
- Anyone caring for sick people or those working in healthcare facilities
4. Which chronic conditions increase the risk of flu related complications?
People with the following chronic medical conditions are at the high risk of flu related complications.
- Chronic lung disease
- Blood disorders
- Asthma
- Endocrine disorders
- Liver disorders
- Kidney diseases
- Metabolic disorders
- Endocrine disorders
- People suffering from stroke
- People with weak immune system
- Neurological conditions
Who should avoid flu vaccines?
Flu shots are not recommended to people with certain health conditions. The following are a few of them.
- People who are allergic to eggs and mercury should avoid vaccination. They must check with their medical practitioner before taking this vaccine. Some vaccines may contain traces of mercury that is added to improve the shelf life of vaccines and prevent contamination in them.
- People who have had Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), which is one of the rarest side effects of vaccination. This condition may induce short time paralysis in some people.
- People suffering from fever or have been suffering from it recently must avoid flu vaccination.
What are some common myths associated with flu shots?
There are several myths associated with flu shots. Click here to read our popular blog on four common flu shot myths.
Get In Touch With Us
Do you want to know how to book your flu vaccine for this season or pre-book for the next season? Our experts can help employers to design and implement a flu prevention program in their workplaces. Get in touch with our expert team today to know-how. You can fill the form or call us at 817-506-7998.
