What is the Flu?
The flu is a type of infection that happens in the nose, throat, and lungs. This is typically caused by an influenza virus. You can get the flu through close contact with someone who has it already or if you even touch a surface that has the virus on it.
The cold and flu often gets confused since they have similar symptoms. This is a contagious virus that can be passed on to others and necessary precautions must be taken to keep yourself and others safe.
The flu shot is important for this case, as it acts as a protection against the flu virus and will keep you safe.
Common Symptoms of the Flu
The symptoms of the flu can be either mild symptoms or severe symptoms. They would usually come about suddenly and you can identify if you or someone else you know has the flu from these common symptoms. The common symptoms are,
- Muscle or body aches
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Headache
Although, not everyone who has the flu will have a fever since it affects people differently. Most people who do get the flu can recover on their own in a few days or less than two weeks even. There can be some complications from the flu, especially after you have recovered.
How Effective is the Flu Shot?
Getting your flu shot would provide the protection you need from the flu but not total protection. It would prevent you from the symptoms of the flu getting much worse or having a serious case of the flu.
It is recommended to get the flu shot for everyone who is aged 6 months or older. It acts as a protective barrier and would only lower the risks of getting the flu. Build up immunity after getting the flu shot, it normally takes around two weeks.
You should get the flu shot every year since a new one is released every year to deal with the viruses which have a tendency to change. The flu shot is known to be effective depending on if you take the doses yearly.
You can get your flu shot from Montgomery Pharmacy or visit our website for more details at: https://dev.pwsweb.com/montgomery/#