Be sure to get your flu vaccine

Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes death. Every flu season is different and influenza infection can affect people differently.

Because a person’s immunity from vaccination declines over time, an annual vaccine is an important way to protect yourself. Also, because flu viruses are constantly changing, flu vaccines are updated each season to protect against the viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. That’s why a flu vaccine is important every season.

After getting vaccinated, it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop in your body and provide protection against the flu. Doctors recommend everyone six months and older should get vaccinated annually.

You can’t get the flu from the flu vaccine, but you may have side effects that mimic cold or flu symptoms. Some of these are:

• Soreness or swelling where you got the shot
• Aching
• Nausea
• Slight fever

Make plans to get vaccinated early in the fall. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October, but you can get the vaccine through January.