“Flu shot is also known as the influenza vaccine, a vaccine to prevent flu/influenza from seasonal viruses”. Flu is highly contagious. It causes hundreds of thousands of hospitalization and thousands of death’s each year.

The vaccine against influenza or flu began in the 1930s with large scale availability in the US beginning in 1945. The influenza vaccine/flu shot is available every year to protect people from coming down with the flu.

Every year ( FDA ) Food and Drug Administration checks all vaccines, that it should contain all substances that comply with their strict. New versions of the vaccines are developed twice a year, as the influenza virus rapidly changes.

Does Everyone Need a Flu Shot?

The answer is YES. According to ( CDC ) Centre for Disease Control, everyone over six months old should get a flu vaccination every year and even if you’re healthy and not worry about getting sick, get a flu shot to protect your loved ones.

Babies, young kid’s, older adults and those with chronic health problems can get severely sick from the flu.

Pros/Benefits of the Flu shot

According to ( FDA ) Food and Drug Administration “ The flu vaccine stimulates your body to make antibodies”. They help your immune system to fight with flu virus when you come in contact with them. 

The ( CDC ) Centre of Disease Control estimates that flu vaccination between 2018 and 2019 prevented.

• 6.16 million medical visits
• 3.18 million illness 
• 90,904 hospitalization 
• 5,747 death’s

 The flu shot has many benefits as it saves us from the flu, but few main are as follows 

1. Flu Prevention

According to ( CDC ) Centre of Disease Control, the best of not getting the flu is the flu shot. Protecting yourself from the flu also protects the people around you who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness.

Flu vaccination also helps to protect people who are at high risk of getting seriously ill from flu-like older adults, people with chronic health conditions and young children.

2. You Will Feel Less Sick

By chance if you get the flu, so after the vaccination it will make your illness milder, your flu will be the cure. The vaccination strengthens your immune system so that it can fight with the flu quickly.

A recent study showed that flu vaccine reduced children’s risk of flu-related pediatric intensive care unit ( PICU ) admission by 74% during flu seasons.

3. Protect Women During and After Pregnancy

Not long after labour day, you will start hearing it,” Get your flu shot!” but do you need it?

Vaccination helps to protect women during Pregnancy and their babies for up to 6 months after they are born. Vaccination reduces the risk of flu-associated with acute respiratory infection in pregnant women by up to one- half.

4. Helps to Prevent Hospitalization

One study showed that flu vaccination was associated with a 71% reduction in flu-related hospitalization among adults of all ages and 77% reduction among adults 50 years of age and older during the flu season.

Other studies have shown that vaccination can reduce the risk of flu-related hospitalization in older adults. A study that looked at flu shot effectiveness throughout three flu seasons estimated that flu vaccination lowered the risk of hospitalizations by 61% in people 50 years of age and older. 

5. Save People with Chronic Health Issues

Vaccination play’s an essential role in the life of people with chronic health issues. These vaccinations were associated with lower rates of some cardiac events among people with heart diseases, especially among those who had a cardiac function in the past year.

Cons/ Side effects of the Flu Shot

Although flu shots are beneficial for all, it may have some side effects for the people. Some are as follows.

1. Still Getting the Flu

According to ( CDC ) Centre of Disease Control after vaccination, many people’s complain that they are still getting the flu. The problem is after getting the treatment, and it takes almost two weeks to act against the flu. It happens mainly because of two reasons 

1. The vaccination was not that good enough for the patient.
2. People with the weak immune system have more chances to get the flu in between after getting the vaccination.

2. The Reaction at the Injection Site

 The most common side effect of the flu shot is a reaction at the injection site, which is typically on the upper arm. After the shot is given, you may have soreness, redness, warmth and in some cases, slight swelling. These effects usually last less than two days.

3. Allergic Reaction 

In every million shots, only 0.2 cases occur reaction. This is a scarce condition. It happens mainly after two hours of getting a flu shot. Symptoms are difficulty in breathing, wheezing, rapid heartbeat, rash or hives , swelling around eyes and mouth, feeling weak or dizzy.

If the conditions are critical, you should concern your doctor.

4. Guillain- Barre Syndrome

Guillain- Barre Syndrome is a rare disorder. In this condition, the person immune system starts to attack his nerves cells, causing muscle weakness and some time paralysis.

Most people recover fully from ( GBS ) Guillain barre syndrome, but some have long term nerve damage. In sporadic cases, people have died of ( GBS ) syndrome. In the United States, an estimated 3,000 to 6,000 people develop Guillain barre syndrome each year.

Conclusion

Every year millions of people get the flu. Receiving the flu vaccine is effective from developing flu. This will help you and your family members and others from not getting the flu. WHO and CDC recommend yearly vaccination those who have a high risk of getting the flu.

There have been many achievements in the development of influenza vaccines and antiviral medications to prevent and treat influenza. However, there is much more that is needed so that people who are at risk for flu and it’s complications and those who come in contact with individuals must receive the vaccine.