Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored campaign for the Vaccination Disparities Partnership at the CDC, however all opinions are my own.
The 2013 National Influenza Vaccination week starts today and this is the perfect time to get yourself and your family vaccinated against the flu. With the holidays coming you want to make sure that every member of the family will be happy and healthy and the best gift you can give them is protecting them from the flu by getting everyone vaccinated.
Why It’s Important to Get the Flu Vaccine Every Year
Every member of the family should get vaccinated once a year because flu viruses are always changing and new vaccine is made each year so that the vaccine protects against the currently circulating influenza viruses, and because immune protection from vaccination declines over time so vaccination is recommended every year for optimal protection.
Who Should Get The Flu Vaccine
The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against influenza disease.
Getting the flu vaccine is specially important for kids under the age of 5, for adults over 65 , pregnant women, and people with certain long-term medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions, blood disorders, morbid obesity, kidney and liver disorders, HIV or AIDS, and cancer. For these people, getting the flu can mean more serious illness, including hospitalization, or it can mean a worsening of existing chronic conditions.
What Are Your Choices When it Comes to the Flu Vaccine
There are many choices available this year for flu vaccine, both in terms of where to get vaccinated and what vaccine to get.
- Traditional flu vaccines made to protect against three different flu viruses (called “trivalent” vaccines) will be available this season. In addition, this season, flu vaccines made to protect against four different flu viruses (called “quadrivalent” vaccines) also will be available. Check with your doctor about which vaccine you should get.
- Flu vaccines are offered in many locations, including doctor’s offices, clinics, health departments, retail stores and pharmacies, and health centers, as well as by many employers and schools.
- The CDC does not recommend one flu vaccine over another. This includes deciding between trivalent or quadrivalent vaccine or between injection (the flu shot) or nasal spray vaccine. The important thing is to get a flu vaccine every year. Talk to your doctor or nurse about the best options for you and your loved ones.
Why It’s Important To Get Vaccinated This Holiday Season
If you and your family have still not gotten the flu vaccine for this year it’s important to get it as soon as possible. Flu activity usually peaks in January or later in the United States and can last as late as May. As long as flu viruses are circulating, it’s not too late to get vaccinated. With flu activity starting to increase and family and friends gathering for the holidays, now is a great time to get a flu vaccine to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Once vaccinated, you can enjoy this holiday season knowing that you have taken the single best step to protect yourself and your loved ones against the flu.
Paula studied architecture and now makes a living as a freelance writer,traveler and amateur photographer.She started her writing & publishing career as the editor of Bebé y Mamá, the first parenting magazine in Guatemala.She is the founder of www.GrowingUpBilingual.com and www.365thingsswfl.com and writes articles in Spanish and English for both magazines and the web on travel,food and bicultural and bilingual parenting .
When she is not on a plane or road trip she likes to create recipes inspired in the flavors of her native Guatemala.
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I’m glad to say my husband and I got our flu shots a month ago – yay! Since we’ve been getting the shots, I have had the flu only once and my husband not at all.
Luckily my daughter’s birthday is right before Christmas, so we usually grab flu shots when we head out for her yearly checkup. We’re homebodies, but we still risk getting the flu when we go out for errands.
we don’t get the flu shot,but my daughter just had a baby and she got one at the hospital.Everyone in her home got the flu except her.Guess it works!
My family & I do not do vaccination, some may say im crazy, some may agree, but i have many reason why i dont, but this is a great topic
Unfortunately, we got the crud despite flu shots! But I do wonder if more people did get them if we all would have less exposure… I don’t regret it, and are glad we did our part, even if we still ended up sick!
Thanks for the tips! I prefer not to get the shot but this was a good read 🙂
This post is a breath of fresh air. I love reading the positive things people have to say about vaccinations.
I don’ t know how I feel about the flu shot. I understand its importance but I don’t like the idea of putting it into my body. I did it one year and I had the worst flu season ever. I got it worse then my DH would didn’t have the shot and got 5 times that year!
I did get my flu shot this year and it was the first time I’d done so in about seven years.
This is great topic!!! we usually don’t get flu shots ..
I am prone to getting the flu quite often… I have always been scared of vaccinations but after reading this, I think the flu vaccination is one I’m going to look into this year…
we have ll had our flu shots this year so happy we got them early
I’m quite very careful with vaccine, because i’m still pretty sure that human immune system is the BEST medicine for the anti bodies to protect their host.
My kids and I get the flu shot every year.
I have to go get my flu shot today, I keep forgetting. Thank you for the reminder.
My son is type 1 diabetic so we are all required to get flue shots to protect him 🙂
I get my flu shot every year but I forgot to get mine this year! Guess I need to head over and get it.
One important thing we have to remember to do. She looks really pretty.
We just took the kids in last week for flu shots!
Great post! Way to spread awareness!
Typically, I vaccinate my boys, but haven’t this year. So far, we’re healthy but it’s probably time to go get this done.
Very insightful! My husband is the only one remaining in my household to get a flu shot. Still trying to convince him!
my family all got flu shots already.:)
I think everyone should get flu shots and all children should get immunized.