What it’s essential learn about chilly and flu season

As the autumn months settle in, Canadians are being urged to take precautions in opposition to the upcoming flu season.

Flu season in Canada sometimes peaks between December and February, however the virus can flow into a lot earlier. Public well being officers are advocating for early vaccination, emphasizing that the annual flu vaccine is the simplest solution to shield in opposition to an infection and cut back the severity of sickness.

Clinics throughout Canada supply flu photographs freed from cost.

Influenza

Influenza, generally often known as the flu, is a respiratory sickness attributable to influenza viruses that unfold simply from individual to individual. These viruses primarily have an effect on the nostril, throat and lungs. Flu signs sometimes embody fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, congestion, runny nostril, complications and fatigue.

Not like the widespread chilly, which regularly develops slowly, the flu tends to hit instantly and may result in extreme issues like pneumonia, bronchitis and even loss of life, notably in high-risk teams akin to younger youngsters, seniors over 65, pregnant people, and people with continual circumstances like bronchial asthma, diabetes or coronary heart illness.

Influenza spreads primarily by way of droplets when an contaminated particular person coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can land within the mouths or noses of individuals close by, or they’ll linger on surfaces the place the virus can survive for as much as 48 hours. Preventive measures akin to handwashing, mask-wearing and staying residence when symptomatic assist cut back the unfold of the virus.

How the flu vaccine works

Every year, flu vaccines are up to date to guard in opposition to the influenza viruses that analysis signifies can be most typical through the upcoming season. The flu shot incorporates inactivated or weakened influenza viruses, which can not trigger the flu however assist the immune system develop antibodies. These antibodies shield in opposition to an infection when uncovered to stay flu viruses.

The vaccine sometimes takes about two weeks after administration for immunity to construct up, which is why public well being officers suggest getting vaccinated within the fall, earlier than flu charges begin to rise. This offers people sufficient time to develop immunity earlier than influenza turns into extra widespread.

Are you able to get flu and COVID-19 vaccines collectively?

Public well being specialists have confirmed that it’s secure to obtain the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine on the similar time. Doing so can present safety in opposition to each sicknesses and cut back the probabilities of extreme issues from both virus. Administering each vaccines throughout the identical go to is a handy manner to make sure you’re protected for the season, particularly as COVID-19 continues to flow into alongside influenza.

Advantages of the flu shot

One of many key advantages of flu vaccination is that it considerably reduces the danger of extreme sickness, hospitalization and loss of life from the flu. Whereas flu vaccines aren’t 100% efficient at stopping an infection, they enormously reduce the severity of the sickness and cut back the unfold of the virus in the neighborhood. That is particularly vital for shielding high-risk teams like seniors, youngsters, pregnant folks and people with continual well being circumstances.

Moreover, widespread flu vaccination helps stop the health-care system from turning into overwhelmed, particularly in a yr when different respiratory viruses like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 are nonetheless circulating. By lowering the general variety of flu-related hospitalizations, vaccines additionally liberate health-care assets for different pressing wants.

Why get vaccinated yearly?

One of many distinctive challenges of influenza is that the virus mutates continuously. Due to these frequent modifications, immunity from final yr’s vaccine will not present full safety this season. This is the reason the flu vaccine is up to date yearly to match probably the most prevalent strains of the virus.

Even when an individual acquired a flu shot the earlier yr, it is vital to get vaccinated once more to remain protected in opposition to new viral strains circulating within the inhabitants. Flu vaccines are reformulated annually based mostly on international surveillance knowledge collected by organizations just like the World Well being Group (WHO) and the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC).

Misconceptions in regards to the flu vaccine

Regardless of clear advantages, misconceptions in regards to the flu shot proceed to contribute to low vaccination charges.

Some folks imagine that the flu vaccine could cause the flu, however this can be a fable. The inactivated viruses within the flu vaccine can not trigger sickness. After receiving the vaccine, some folks could expertise delicate side-effects like soreness on the injection web site or a low-grade fever, however these signs are short-lived and much much less extreme than a full-blown flu an infection.

One other false impression is that the flu shot shouldn’t be obligatory for wholesome adults. Whereas wholesome folks could have a decrease danger of extreme flu issues, they’ll nonetheless unfold the virus to extra weak people, akin to younger youngsters, seniors or immunocompromised relations. Getting vaccinated helps shield each the person and the group by way of herd immunity.

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