The end of the year is rapidly approaching, and you still have not gotten your flu shot. Getting the flu shot can protect you from getting seriously ill and prevent health complications if you’re already sick. Many people get their flu shot every year to protect themselves and their families during the flu season. It’s November, and you haven’t gotten vaccinated for the flu, but it’s not too late to do so because the flu season is not yet over.

AFC Urgent Care Paramus provides flu shots to all patients who need one. Visit our center today to get your flu shot or another diagnosis for any general illness symptoms you may have. 

When to Get a Flu Shot

The flu virus is more active beginning in September and lasting through the spring and usually hits a peak between December and February. The CDC recommends people living in the northern hemisphere get the flu vaccine vaccinated between early September and late October.

It’s not advised that you get the flu vaccine before September because its protection could fade before the flu season ends. This is especially important for older persons with weakened immune systems. If you haven’t gotten vaccinated up to late winter, you can still get the flu shot.

Who Should or Shouldn’t Get the Flu Shot

While the flu shots are important during the flu season and are appropriate for most people, there are certain categories of people that can get the flu shot and others who shouldn’t get a flu shot. Considering that different types of flu shots have been designated for particularly aged individuals, anyone seeking the flu shot should receive it accordingly.

The CDC highlights those who should or shouldn’t get the flu shot:

• People who CAN/SHOULD get the flu shot include:
  • Children 6 months of age(standard-dose inactivated influenza vaccine)
  • People aged 18 years and older (approved recombinant influenza vaccine)
  • People 65 years and older (adjuvanted and high-dose inactivated vaccines)
  • Pregnant women
  • People with certain chronic health conditions
  • People with egg allergy
• People who shouldn’t get a flu vaccine include:
  • Infants under six months of age
  • People with a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction to any ingredient in a flu vaccine (other than egg proteins)
  • People who have had a severe allergic reaction to a dose of flu vaccine
  • Some people with a history of GBS (talk to your doctor about GBS and the flu shot)

Benefits of the Flu Shot

How can you benefit from the flu shot? There are several benefits to be had from getting the flu shot:

• A flu shot prevents you from contracting the flu and becoming ill. During 2019-2020, flu shots prevented approximately 7.5 million flu illnesses.
• The flu shot minimizes the severity of illness in a person who gets the shot but still succumbs to illness. A 2018 study revealed that of the adults hospitalized with flu, vaccinated patients were 59% less likely to be admitted to the ICU than unvaccinated patients.
• A flu shot minimizes the risk of flu-associated hospitalization. According to data, during 2019-2020, flu shots prevented roughly 105,000 flu-related hospitalizations.
• The flu shot helps to protect persons with certain chronic health conditions from getting worst, like cardiac issues, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic lung disease.
• The flu shot protects pregnant people by minimizing the risk of flu-associated acute respiratory infection by approximately one-half.

You still have time to get the flu shot if you haven’t already done so. The flu season is unpredictable, so it’s best to protect yourself and others around you by getting vaccinated. Speak to an AFC Paramus provider before getting the flu shot if you have any questions or concerns.