The flu virus hospitalizes hundreds of thousands of people every year, yet the flu could have been prevented with a simple shot. Flu season is just beginning and now's the time to get the vaccine that could keep you out of a sick bed.
Walgreen's pharmacist Monali Majmudar says every year she can see them coming -- people coming in with fevers, aches, and body chills.
Who should get the flu shot? Anyone over the age of 6 months should get the flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends you get it as soon as it becomes available, yet many remain hesitant.
"I don't really feel like I want to subject myself to anything that could make me sick," said one person who has not received a flu shot.
"That's not very true. People think ‘I got the flu shot. I'm going to get sick now,' but you could have already come down with the virus or already had some kind of virus and you might think, 'oh, you know, that gave me the flu,' but that's not really true," said Majmudar.
If you don't like needles, don't worry. There's more than one way to get the vaccine. There's a flu mist that you can inhale and new, smaller needles that you barely notice are available. Whichever you choose, Majmudar says it's never too early or too late to protect yourself.
"One thing we always say is it's very unpredictable, we never know how the flu is going to be," said Majmudar.
If you are pregnant or have an allergy to eggs, let your doctor know before getting the shot. You can still be vaccinated; they'll just have to get the proper vaccine for you. For more information about the flu shot, click here.
Monday, June 17 2013 10:08 AM EDT2013-06-17 14:08:03 GMT
Now, it's time to get ‘phine' – and, yes, that's with a ‘P-H.' Fitness trainer Apollo Nida is here to help you get those arms and legs in tip-top shape for summer!
Now, it's time to get ‘phine' – and, yes, that's with a ‘P-H.' Fitness trainer Apollo Nida is here to help you get those arms and legs in tip-top shape for summer!
