With the winter season quickly approaching, it’s time to start thinking about one of the most important aspects of sickness prevention: the flu shot. Many myths and misinformation has been perpetuated throughout the years as to the flu shots credibility, reliability, and
overall effectiveness. CNBC.com recently ran an article highlighting some of the things you should know about them. Here is a summary of the most important ones and why you everyone should get a flu shot this year.
1.) Can They Get You Sick?: The belief that you can actually get the flu from a vaccination has been an old wives tale for many years. That’s virtually impossible though, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Flu shots, or the nasal spray vaccination alternative, contain dead and severely weakened strands of the virus respectively.
2.) Preservatives: While flu shots do contain forms of preservatives, ones that are packaged in multidose vials use what’s known as thimerosal. This prevents the growth of bacteria in the vaccine. While thimerosal does contain ethylmercury, it’s cleared from the body faster than any other form even that found in the fish you eat, according to the CDC. Even though they maintain it is harmless, there will be 118 million doses of the flu shot that do not contain it at all this year.
3.) Logistics: It takes about two weeks for the average human body to develop the flu antibodies after receiving the shot. Flu shot availability is open right now. This year it’s projected that 179 million doses of the vaccine will be administered this year and almost 100 million of which has already been.
Getting the flu shot is an important step in protecting you and your family this winter. One of the best places to get a flu shot is as at a walk in health clinic or urgent care center. With approximately 9,000 different locations of this type across the country today there are plenty of places to go get your shot. More than 95% of these facilities have real physicians on staff so you know they’re reputable. With average wait times under 20 minutes at 69% of them they are the quickest and most convenient option.