Flu Shots Specialist
Flu Shots Specialist
If you want to keep yourself and your family as healthy as possible, Jiki Medical Associates, LLC has a way to help: flu shots. They offer seasonal flu vaccines from the comfort and convenience of their Rockville, Maryland, office so you can avoid influenza. To schedule your flu shot, call the office or make an appointment online today.
Flu Shots Q & A
What are flu shots?
Flu shots are vaccinations you can get each year to protect your body against that season’s particular strains of influenza. Influenza is a common viral infection that spreads easily from person to person. Symptoms are similar to those of the common cold, but the flu comes on more quickly and can be much more debilitating than a cold.
The most common flu symptoms include:
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Fever
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Headaches
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Body aches
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Sore throat
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Dry cough
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Alternating chills and sweats
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Fatigue
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Congestion
While these symptoms usually don’t impact a healthy adult beyond a few missed workdays, they can be life-threatening for children and the elderly. Getting a flu shot ensures you don’t spread the virus to one of these at-risk groups.
How does the flu shot work?
When you get a flu shot, you introduce a small amount of the virus to your system. This causes your body to develop antibodies that can defend against influenza. This antibody-development process usually takes a couple of weeks. If you’re exposed to influenza after getting the flu shot and waiting two weeks, your body has defense mechanisms in place to prevent you from getting sick.
During the 2017-2018 flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that people choosing to get the flu shot prevented over 7 million influenza illnesses and over 8,000 deaths.
The CDC recommends that every person over the age of 6 months get a flu shot each year to stay healthy. Generally, you should plan to get your shot before flu season starts in the late fall. Plan to get your flu shot by the end of October.
Why do I need to get a flu shot every year?
Influenza viruses change over time, adapting and creating new strains of the virus. Past vaccinations or influenza infections equip your body to fight only that particular strain of the flu.
Each year, researchers formulate the flu vaccine to create antibodies that fight against the strains of influenza they predict will be most common during the upcoming flu season, including new strains.
Getting your flu shot annually defends you against new strains of influenza and ensures you don’t spread the virus to people whose lives could be threatened by it. Schedule your flu shot by calling Jiki Medical Associates or booking your appointment online today.