What is influenza (flu)? Influenza or flu is a viral infection of the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs that can make someone of any age sick. If you have the flu, you usually have high fever, fatigue, sore throat, aches, pains, chills and cough. The flu can cause exhaustion lasting several days. Flu suffers typically spend four days in bed and about a week to fully recover. Seniors and people with chronic illnesses take ever longer to recover. Unfortunately, thousands of people die each year in the U.S. from the flu or related complications.   Why should I get a flu vaccination? You need a flu shot each year because the strains of the virus change each year. Flu shots are safe. You won't get the the flu from a flu shot. Flu shots are effective in preventing flu. In addition, your immunization will provide you with protection against lower respiratory tract infections and other complications.

Who should get a flu vaccination?

Anyone can get the flu. At most risk of complications from influenza are: people with a chronic disease such as diabetes, heart conditions or asthma, people over age 50, residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, pregnant women. Flu shots are recommended for health care workers and persons (including household members) in close contact with persons at high risk . Influenza vaccine also can be administered to any person over 6 months of age to reduce the possibility of becoming infected with influenza.

What are the risks from flu vaccine?

Most people have no side effects from the vaccination. Flu shots are given by injection, usually into a muscle of the upper arm. This may cause soreness for a day or two at the injection site and occasionally may also cause a fever or achiness for one or two days. Unlike the 1976 swine flu, recents shots have not been linked to the paralytic illness Guillian Barre syndrome. As is the case with most drugs or vaccines, there is a possibility that allergic or more serious reactions, or even -death, could occur with the flu shot. These serious reactions are extremely rare and most likely linked to residual egg protein in the vaccine.