The 2011 flu season is heating up now. Have you had your flu shot yet? Nope? You're not alone. We recently polled our RealAge Facebook fans, and nearly half said they'll skip the flu shot this year.
These results surprised us, because getting the shot is the single best way for nearly everyone to prevent the flu, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
So, what's stopping you? Here are six common excuses, and why you should reconsider:
1. I'm healthy.The flu vaccine is especially important for high-risk people - pregnant women, young kids, older folks, and anyone with a compromised immune system. But the rest of us need it, too. Having the shot will prevent you from wasting precious vacation days being sick with the flu or (worse!) going to work sick and sharing the virus to your coworkers.
2. I had a flu shot last year.
Smart move! Get another one this year. The vaccine is reformulated annually to protect against strains of the flu virus predicted to be most widespread.
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3. The flu shot always makes me sick.
The flu vaccine is formulated from dead or inactive viruses, so it can't make you sick. If you do get sick, chances are you were exposed to the virus before getting the shot or you picked up a virus not included in the vaccine. Also, it takes vaccine two weeks to protect you fully, so get plenty of sleep, eat right, and practice good hygiene to stay healthy in the meantime.
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4. I live in a warm climate.
The flu virus becomes active once temperatures drop below 60 degrees, but a warm climate doesn't offer much protection. Snowbirds who flock south often bring the flu virus with them. According to CDC stats, the flu was as widespread last year in the balmy Southwest as it was in the frigid Northeast
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5. I hate needles.
Ask for a nasal spray flu vaccine instead. It's approved for healthy people between the ages of 2 and 49. (The nasal spray isn't approved for pregnant women, people 50 and older, and anyone with a weakened immune system - they'll need to grin and bear the shot.)
6. It's too late.
Getting a flu shot early in the season offers the best protection, but life gets in the way and it's easy to it put off. The shot is effective anytime, so even if you wait until December, it helps. Flu activity typically peaks in January or February and can last as late as May.
There are some exceptions. Flu shots are off limits for infants younger than 6 months. And check with your doctor if you're allergic to eggs (the vaccine may contain egg protein), have a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome, or have had a severe reaction to a flu vaccine in the past.
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