The Risks of Skipping Your Annual Flu Shot

Getting an annual flu vaccine isn't a top priority for many people. They believe that they have a strong immune system and don't need one, don't need one because of their age, or think they will become ill from the flu shot. Others believe the flu vaccination they received last year will protect them this winter.

Whatever the reason, this logic couldn't be further from the truth. Influenza viruses cause millions of illnesses annually. They can cause serious complications, hospitalization and sometimes death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that approximately 140,000 to 810,000 Americans are hospitalized with the flu each year, depending on the severity of the influenza season. Of those, between 12,000 and 61,000 die. Furthermore, CDC statistics indicate that flu vaccinations helped prevent an estimated 7.5 million illnesses in 2019-2020.

Who is Most at Risk for Seasonal Flu?

Anyone can experience serious complications, such as respiratory infections and pneumonia from the flu, even healthy people with a sound immune system. However, some people have a greater risk of developing complications if they get the flu.

Those with a higher risk of complications are older people, especially those over age 65. The CDC reports that this age group makes up at least 70% of flu-related deaths and 50% of hospitalizations. Other groups with a higher risk include:

• Pregnant women
• Children, especially those with neurological conditions
• Anyone who has suffered a stroke
• Those with asthma, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, morbid obesity and other metabolic diseases, cancer, cancer or AIDS
• Anemia and other blood disorders
• Neurological conditions
• Indigenous people

Getting a flu shot also reduces your chances of becoming infected simultaneously with COVID-19 or another respiratory illness when you already have the flu. Having multiple infections can lead to even more severe complications. Even if admitted to the ICU, you'll usually have a shorter stay than those without vaccines.

Flu vaccines also have multiple benefits for healthy pregnant women, especially if they are hospitalized with flu complications. Getting the flu vaccine while pregnant also helps protect babies from getting the flu before they are old enough to receive a flu vaccine at six months old.

Why You Need a Flu Shot Even If Not High Risk

You may not be high risk, but chances are you have a friend, family member or colleague who is. You can be contagious for one to seven days before showing symptoms. By doing simple everyday activities like going to work, eating dinner with family, and the like, you can potentially spread the disease. By getting a flu vaccine, you save yourself from a week of illness as well as unknowingly infecting those around you.

In addition, when more people choose flu vaccination, researchers can better pinpoint flu strains and decrease hospitalizations. Science improves with every year's vaccine, along with your odds of staying healthy.

Why Annual Flu Vaccines are Necessary

Many influenza viruses exist, with scientists dividing them into four major categories labeled A, B, C, and D. Influenza A strains, with dozens of subtypes, are most commonly linked to epidemics. Influenza B strains also produce seasonal flu but have fewer strains. Influenza C produces mild respiratory illness and is generally not linked to pandemics, while Influenza D only affects cattle.

Flu vaccines protect against multiple strains of Influenza A and B each year. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends what strains the vaccines should include based on worldwide trends. However, flu viruses change over time, which is why you need annual flu shots. The vaccine's effectiveness also decreases over time, so receiving an annual flu shot will keep you protected.

Getting a flu shot stimulates the production of antibodies attaching to the outer structures of a virus protein coat, essentially dialing it. Unfortunately, these external structures constantly change, necessitating new vaccines each year to target currently circulating strains.

Effectiveness of Flu Shots

Vaccine effectiveness can vary depending on several factors, including the health and age of the person getting the flu shot and how well the vaccine matches with circulation strains in the current flu season. Circulating strains sometimes change during the time it takes to produce a vaccine, so when this happens, a flu shot may not work as well as expected. Flu shots can still provide protection even when there is a less-than-optimal match between the vaccine and circulating strains.

Optimal Time to Get a Flu Shot

The height of flu season generally occurs between December and February, but sometimes it starts as early as October. During other years, flu season can start late and last into early spring. Some people mistakenly believe that getting a flu shot later will provide better protection, but that is false. Getting your flu vaccine as early as possible in the fall is the best course of action as it helps your body build immunity. It takes about two weeks for the flu shot to become fully effective.

However, what if you get through the December holidays and January has arrived? Can you still get the flu shot? The answer is yes. Getting the vaccine anytime during the flu season will help protect you against severe illness.

Misconceptions About Flu Virus Vaccinations

If you are still wondering about getting a flu shot, look at some of the most common myths versus facts about getting vaccinated for the winter months.

Myth: You can get the flu from a flu shot.

Since 1945, when flu shots were first introduced to the public, they have consisted of dead strains of influenza A and B viruses. Because these viruses are dead, it's impossible for the shot to give you the flu. A nasal spray flu vaccine is made with a weakened virus but cannot give you the flu. Both flu vaccine types trigger your body's immune response. The antibody creation spurs side effects that can be easily mistaken for early flu-like symptoms. However, those side effects indicate that the flu shot is working.

Myth: I don't need the vaccine because I never get the flu virus

A flu-free history does not guarantee a flu-free future. Because flu strains evolve over time, you are at risk of getting influenza viruses every time you avoid vaccination. In addition, you can still pass the flu virus to other people.

Myth: catching the flu builds your immune system more than the vaccine

Because flu shots don't always work well, some people mistakenly believe that getting the flu will boost your immunity more. The flu shot doesn't weaken your immune system, either. It boosts your immunity by triggering responses to help prepare your body if exposed to the active virus.

An annual flu vaccine is an integral part of a preventive care regimen, as it's vital to your overall health. If you have questions about flu shots or other types of vaccinations, Dr. Kaur and the VIVVA staff will gladly address your concerns.