It’s easy to get caught up with the joys of fall. The foliage is beautiful and Halloween is creeping up but with every leaf that falls, we come closer and closer to the winter season. Gear up for the cold Pennsylvania winter weather with an annual flu shot, a preventative measure that will help you combat the influenza virus.
Eugene Gorski, MD, a board certified physician with Alliance Medical Group Family Practice in the Conyngham area, says “The benefit of the flu shot is to protect an individual from the most active forms of the flu that will be present during the winter months.”
Receiving the flu shot not only decreases a person’s chance of getting the flu, but also reduces the possibility of severe complications if one does suffer from a strain of the influenza virus that the vaccine doesn't protect against.
Although the flu shot is known to have many benefits, the public finds every excuse not to receive one: It doesn’t work, I get sick from it, I don’t want to experience the side effects, I’m afraid of needles, and the list goes on. In fact, only an approximate 40 percent of Americans actually receive the flu shot, despite its proven benefits.
“There is the possibility of a localized reaction with the flu shot, causing some redness and swelling. While you may feel like you’re getting sick after receiving the flu shot (a low-grade temperature and some achiness), it’s just your body analyzing the dead virus in your system, which allows your immune system to get a sneak peak at the possible viruses it could experience throughout the sick season. This feeling subsides after a couple days, if it even occurs at all,” said Dr. Gorski.
The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone including children age six months and older. Children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions are at highest risk for serious complications that result from the flu.
Your local healthcare provider and area pharmacies provide flu shots. Be proactive and protect yourself this winter!
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