The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get the annual flu vaccine on an annual basis, usually starting around the fall months. Pregnant women and infants are often advised not get the flu vaccine, because of the mercury in the vaccines infants and children up to age 8 require two doses of the influenza vaccine to make sure they are vaccinated against the flu (CDC). Ideally, patients should get the seasonal flu vaccine by Thanksgiving -- the holiday season means hugs and kisses, which help spread the flu. However, getting vaccinated with the flu shot makes sense any time during flu season, which may last from September to May. Before getting into the effects of both having or avoiding one, let’s talk a bit about the flu virus the flu symptoms can be similar to those of a cold, although they tend to be more severe. The vaccine, technically called the influenza vaccination, is typically delivered as a shot and contains antigens for three or four of the most comment flu virus strains: type A with subtype H1N1, type A with subtype h2N2 and either one or two type B virus
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get the annual flu vaccine on an annual basis, usually starting around the fall months. Pregnant women and infants are often advised not get the flu vaccine, because of the mercury in the vaccines infants and children up to age 8 require two doses of the influenza vaccine to make sure they are vaccinated against the flu (CDC). Ideally, patients should get the seasonal flu vaccine by Thanksgiving -- the holiday season means hugs and kisses, which help spread the flu. However, getting vaccinated with the flu shot makes sense any time during flu season, which may last from September to May. Before getting into the effects of both having or avoiding one, let’s talk a bit about the flu virus the flu symptoms can be similar to those of a cold, although they tend to be more severe. The vaccine, technically called the influenza vaccination, is typically delivered as a shot and contains antigens for three or four of the most comment flu virus strains: type A with subtype H1N1, type A with subtype h2N2 and either one or two type B virus