Should I get a flu shot?

What is the flu?

The “real” flu, also known as influenza, is evoked through the influenza virus and develops an infection in the respiratory system. Fever, headaches and rheumatic pains, shivering and a dry cough are the usual symptoms that last for about five to seven days.

For whom can the virus be dangerous?

Healthy young people can normally overcome a flu without further complications. For older people, over the age of 60, the immune system’s functions have already begun to reduce. This leads to the flu lasting longer, its course being more severe and the virus more often resulting in superinfections along the way. Aside from the influenza virus infection, this group is also often affected by a secondary infection through bacteria. For example; one possible consequence is a lung infection, which can be especially dangerous and life threatening for older and weaker patients. Not only elderly, but also chronically ill patients are more sensitive to flu infections. Patients with lung diseases such as asthma or a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as weakened patients, can also be easily affected by the flu. For this group, a flu vaccine is highly recommended.

Even though this is not very well-known, for patients with chronic cardiovascular, liver, kidney or neurological illnesses (such as diabetes mellitus) a flu shot is just as important. The third high risk group is made up of pregnant women. There are two reasons for expecting women to be at a higher risk when falling ill from the flu: pregnant women tend to suffer from the virus more intensely and for a longer period of time and secondly, severe infections that might attack the body while weakened from the virus, could potentially harm the unborn child. Receiving flu shots during the pregnancy not only has benefits for the mother but also the child, as within the first six months after birth, the baby has not yet developed a mature immune system. A vaccine given during pregnancy will supply the baby with protective antibodies against the flu. A study from the University of Utah has shown that infants born from vaccinated mothers are 64% less affected by the flu in the first months after birth than babies from unvaccinated mothers.

For people who are professionally in direct and regular contact with risk groups, such as medical staff, influenza vaccines are also recommended. Aside from self-protection, the vaccine also helps lower the danger of transferring the virus onto patients at risk.

Why does the vaccine have to be repeated every year?

The influenza virus possesses a high genetic variability and adaptability. The influenza virus’s various subtypes can interchange entire gene sections amongst each other to constantly develop new virus forms - which our immune system is not yet protected against. For this reason, the flu shot should be renewed every Autumn/Fall, to incorporate all new subtypes of the virus.

Does a flu shot fully protect me?

Since the influenza virus can take on various shapes, the flu shot unfortunately can never guarantee a
100% protection against the virus. A patient could fall ill to a virus subtype which is not covered by the vaccine. Especially when travelling to foreign regions of the world, the according virus spectrum can be very different and the risk of becoming infected, despite a flu shot, is very high. A flu can also break out if the person was infected before receiving the flu shot. There is a small amount of people, the “non-responders”, who are not able to produce the correct antibodies even after receiving a vaccine.

Does the vaccine have side effects?

Light versions of symptoms similar to the flu can occur for several days after being vaccinated. Redness and pain can occur on the puncture. Some people have an allergic reaction against the chicken protein which is a part of the shot. In case such an allergy has already been detected, a consultation with your general physician can help find alternatives.

Should I get a flu shot?

If you are part of one of the above mentioned groups at risk, a flu shot is highly recommended. For everyone else, it is advised to receive the influenza vaccine, even if for the sake of not endangering other people by being a carrier or simply to avoid being sick in bed for a week.

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