Do You Need a Flu Shot Every Year?
Posted on November 26, 2024
Every fall, we’re reminded to get our annual flu vaccine. But many people still wonder, “Do I really need a flu shot every year?” The simple answer is yes. Annual flu vaccines play a major role in protecting your health and the health of those around you. Below, we explain why this is necessary so that you can make informed decisions for yourself and your loved ones.
Why Get the Flu Shot Every Year?
The flu virus is constantly changing. Each year, different strains of the virus circulate, and these strains can vary greatly from one flu season to the next. Scientists develop the flu shot based on the strains they predict will be most common during the upcoming season but because these predictions change, so must the vaccine. This means that last year’s shot won’t protect you from this year’s flu.
Beyond the changes in the virus itself, the effectiveness of the flu shot can also decrease over time. Even if the strains are similar from one year to the next, your body’s immune response weakens in the months following vaccination. It’s important to get vaccinated annually to make sure that you’re fully protected.
Vaccine effectiveness also varies from year to year. Scientists carefully monitor flu activity and create vaccines based on their findings. In some years, the match between the vaccine and circulating flu strains is closer than in others, which leads to higher vaccine effectiveness. While influenza vaccinations don’t guarantee you won’t get the flu, they significantly reduce the severity of the illness if you do get sick.
Who Should Get the Annual Flu Vaccine?
Flu shots are recommended for almost everyone over the age of six months. While some groups are at higher risk for severe flu complications, such as young children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic health conditions, the flu shot is beneficial for people of all ages. It not only reduces your chances of getting sick but also helps prevent the spread of the virus to others who may be more vulnerable.
Getting your annual flu vaccine is particularly important if you live or work with individuals who are at higher risk as getting vaccinated helps create a safer environment for those who may not be able to protect themselves as effectively.
What About Natural Immunity?
Some people believe that if they’ve had the flu before, they’re protected from future infections. However, the flu virus doesn’t work that way. Because the strains change regularly, having had the flu in the past doesn’t protect you against future strains. Natural immunity from a previous infection may help to some degree, but it won’t provide the same level of protection that the annual flu vaccine can offer.
Additionally, relying on natural immunity means taking the risk of getting sick again. The flu can cause serious complications, even for healthy individuals so the vaccine is a safer and more reliable way to stay protected.
Myths About the Flu Shot
There are a few common misconceptions about the flu vaccine that keep people from getting vaccinated. One is the belief that the flu shot can give you the flu. This is not true. The flu shot is made from an inactivated virus that cannot cause illness. Some people experience mild side effects like a sore arm or low-grade fever, but these are short-lived and far less severe than the flu itself.
Another myth is that if you didn’t get sick last year, you don’t need the flu shot this year. Flu viruses change constantly, and immunity weakens over time, so skipping your flu shot puts you at risk for illness.
Getting the annual flu vaccine is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect yourself and others from the flu. Making the flu shot a yearly habit helps reduce your risk of getting the flu, lowers the severity of symptoms if you do catch it, and helps prevent serious complications. Make your health and the health of your community a priority—get your flu shot today!
Learn More About Families Fighting Flu
Families Fighting Flu (FFF), a national, nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to honoring loved ones who have suffered serious medical complications or died from influenza, commemorates 20 years of advocacy protecting children, families, and all communities from the flu. Our 20th anniversary is a testament to our dedication and enduring efforts to protect families. It is also a sobering reminder that we are not done yet.
In sharing personal stories, FFF strives to increase awareness about the seriousness of the flu, reduce the number of hospitalizations and deaths each year, drive up vaccination rates for everyone six months and older, and encourage symptomatic individuals to get tested and receive appropriate treatment. Learn more about our mission and resources here so that you can empower your family to stay healthy this flu season.
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