Flu Shot Only Covers One of This Year's Three Flu Strains

The flu season is upon us and has not even peaked yet. According to the CDC, flu season generally runs from November to March, but can potentially last well into spring. Thus far, eleven states have already reported flu cases, and more will follow. Even school closings have already occurred because of the current influenza outbreak. This flu season will not be a mild one. It is important to follow basic guidelines to protect yourself. This year, even if you got the flu shot, you will still be at risk. This year's flu shot does not offer a full protection from the flu. According to the CDC, only one of the three flu strains hitting Americans this season is actually covered by the flu shot.

Influenza, more commonly known as the flu, is a viral disease with a potentially deadly outcome. Last year alone, seventy-three children died after being infected by the flu virus. Because of this potentially deadly outcome, health organizations worldwide run campaigns each year urging people to take the necessary precautions and, where available, to get a flu shot.

Influenza is highly contagious. The virus infects the nose, throat, and lungs. An infected person can spread the virus before he or she even feels symptoms of the disease like. In mild cases people even have trouble to distinguish whether they just have a cold or might actually have the flu. This adds to the flu virus-spreading problem as people, who believe they just have a cold continue to go about their daily business.

Because of the ease in which the virus can spread from person to person, it is important to follow basic prevention guidelines to avoid an infection. Frequent hand washing with soap and water is at the top of the list. If you think you might have contracted the flu, you should stay at home. Besides exhibiting general cold symptoms like nasal congestion and cough, a good indicator that you have the flu is an overall body achiness and fever. Young children, the elderly, people with a compromised immune system, and pregnant women are at risk of developing serious complications. Therefore, a medical professional should closely monitor these risk groups.

Flu shots are a great measure to prevent an infection with the influenza virus. However, flu vaccines are created well in advance of the flu season, based on a scientific prediction of what flu strain may hit in the respective season. The advance preparation is necessary due to the length of time it takes to create a vaccine, which is generally about six months. Although scientists have been working on speeding up the process because of the looming possibility of a pandemic flu, the currently available flu vaccine production is still based on predictions and not actual occurrence.

Unfortunately, for the current season, the scientists were wrong. According to the CDC, the flu shot will only protect people from one of the three strains currently going around in the US. People, who got the shots, are not protected from getting the flu this year, if the contract one of the other two strains. Therefore, these people, too, should take the necessary precautions outlined above. Still, the CDC urges everybody, who has not yet received a flu shot, to get one. This will offer risk reduction by one-third, and less serious symptoms, if a patient contracts any of the other two flu strains.

Because of the lower effect of the flu shot, this year's flu season is anticipated to be more severe than the last two. Therefore, my advice is, protect yourself, and if you don't already have, get that flu shot!