No one likes getting sick with a cold. We don’t want to get the flu. So we must take precautions to avoid this nuisance of an illness. First we have to start with washing our hands often and staying away from sick people. Though often times just a setback health wise, the flu can be deadly at times. It is more prevalent from October through the May.
Risks of Catching the Flu
The flu can be passed on to others though close contact coughing and sneezing and touching infected surfaces and then touching your mouth or eyes. This is where hand-washing comes in at. But most people choose to not just rely on this method. They want to get something that will ward off the flu should they come into contact with the germ. They opt to get a vaccine that protects them from the various strains of influenza. Most people start getting their vaccines in the beginning of October.
The estimates that 200,000 people get admitted to the hospital each year for severe flu symptoms with thousands of them dying from complications. They recommend that anyone over the age of 6 month and healthy enough to receive it should get their vaccines. The people that are the most at risk for getting complications are the elderly, young and pregnant women. The flu vaccine come in two forms, a nasal spray or shot.
Choosing the Right Method
When administered the flu vaccine creates antibodies in the body within a two week period. This provides protection from infection should the virus enter your body. Each vaccine covers multiple strains of the influenza virus. The main flu vaccine that is administered is the flu shot. This shot is approved for people 6 month and up. You cannot get the flu virus from the vaccine because the virus is inactive and weakened.
Another option for administering the flu vaccine is through a mist. This mist protects you from the same strains of the flu virus as the shot. The mist is usually for healthy between the ages of 2-8. But it is approved for use for people 2-49 years of age.
This type of vaccine does contain live viruses so that is why you must be healthy at the time of administration of it. Though it is very rare that the mist will cause the flu to occur in the recipient. Though the it does contain live viruses they are weakened have lost their disease causing capabilities.
You shouldn’t take the mist if you are allergic to eggs, pregnant or unhealthy. If your immune system is compromised in any way you should steer clear of the mist and opt for the shot. You may experience a runny nose, congestion, or cough after the mist is administered but that should pass.
Both methods have their place and make more or less sense to use based on your situation. The doctor will decide which one is best for you. Keep in mind that with the flu shot it can take up to 2 weeks to become fully effective. This could leave you open to acquiring the flu within that time period. You need to be careful and mindful of your interactions with others and keep your hands clean. Though both can cause flu like symptoms they will not give you the flu.