Monday, November 23, 2015

What You Need To Know About Flu Shots DC

By Mattie Knight


In a city with a population of around 660,000 distributed at a density of more than 10,000 per square mile, it is not rocket science to realize that there is a need for flu shots DC. This is the heart of the American government. An elevated temperature, aches and pains and snot coming out of his nose are not simply not what you want to see in the leader of the free world.

Every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that anywhere from three thousand to 49 thousand people die from influenza. Many others develop chronic breathing problems. Complications of the flu include viral or bacterial pneumonia, asthma, or sinus infections.

The symptoms of influenza are caused by a virus, and not a bacterium. For this reason, it is impossible to cure the disease with antibiotics or other types of medication. It can, however, be held at bay by a community health program of immunization. In those people who are immunized but continue to get the disease anyway, it is much less serious. This is why the World Health Organization, known familiarly as WHO, encourage everyone to get a jab every year.

Except for the rare individual meeting certain specific criteria, anyone older than six months of age is strongly urged to have a vaccination every year. Some people are at a higher risk of complications or a more serious case of influenza than the general population. This high-risk group includes pregnant women, seniors over the age of 65, and children under five years old. Natives of Alaska and American Indians also appear to be at an elevated risk of flu complications and are also advised to have the jab.

Influenza vaccinations are also recommended for people who have certain medical conditions. These are people with chronic lung problems such as cystic fibrosis, asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Also, anyone with a compromised immune system or disorders of the liver or kidney fall into this category. Kids who are not yet 19 years old but who have been taking long-term aspirin should also receive the jab, as should anyone with a Body Mass Index (BMI) that is higher than 40.

As with any other health condition that affects a large number of people, a number of myths and legends have developed around the topic of influenza shots. Pregnant women, for example, do not need special permission from their regular doctor if they choose to become immunized at a pharmacy or in a clinic at their workplace.

Another popular myth is that people can get the actual influenza disease when they have the vaccination. This myth originates from the fact that some vaccines contain viral particles. However, when present, these viruses have been inactivated so it is completely impossible to get the disease from the vaccine. Occasionally, people experience flu-like side effects like an elevated temperature, headache and muscular aches and pains.

Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting are often mistakenly referred to as the "stomach flu." While true influenza may introduce these symptoms as a side effect, in and of themselves they are not caused by an influenza virus.




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