Flu Shots for People Over 50
The flu (influenza) is caused by a virus that’s easy to spread. It can be a lot more serious than you think, especially for people over 50. A flu shot protects you from the flu. It’s best to get a flu shot each October or November, before flu season starts. You can get it at your doctor’s office or a health clinic. Drugstores, senior centers, and workplaces often offer flu shots, too. If you have questions, ask your healthcare provider. And remember: A flu shot could save your life!
Flu Facts
-
The flu shot will not give you the flu.
-
The flu can be dangerous—even life-threatening. Every year, about 36,000 people die of complications from the flu.
-
The flu is caused by a virus. It can’t be treated with antibiotics.
-
Influenza is not the same as a “stomach flu,” the 24-hour bug that causes vomiting and diarrhea. This is most likely due to a GI (gastrointestinal) infection—not the flu.
-
You need to get a flu shot each year. Last year’s shot will not protect you from this year’s flu.
|
Flu Symptoms
Flu symptoms tend to come on quickly. Fever, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and muscle aches are symptoms of the flu. Upset stomach and vomiting are not common for adults. Some symptoms, such as fatigue and cough, may last a few weeks.
How a Flu Shot Protects You
There are many strains (types) of flu viruses. Medical experts predict which 3 strains are most likely to make people sick each year. Flu shots are made from these strains. When you get a flu shot, inactivated (“killed”) flu viruses are injected into your body. These cannot give you the flu. But they do prompt your body to make antibodies to fight these flu strains. If you’re exposed to the same strains later in the flu season, the antibodies will fight off the germs.
People Over 50 Should Get Flu Shots
If you’re over 50, you should get a flu shot. But when supplies are limited, these high-risk groups have priority:
-
People over 65
-
People with chronic health problems (such as diabetes, chronic lung disease, asthma, heart failure, or kidney failure)
-
People undergoing certain medical treatments
-
People who live in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities
-
Caregivers and household contacts of babies younger than 6 months
-
Healthcare workers
Who Can’t Get a Flu Shot?
-
People severely allergic to eggs
-
People who have had bad reactions to flu vaccination (including Guillain-Barré syndrome)
-
A person who has a high fever (the shot can be given after the fever goes away)
What About the Nasal Vaccine?
You may have heard about a new flu vaccine that’s sprayed into the nose. This nasal vaccine is only for healthy people ages 5 to 49. So it may be an option for others in your family, but not for you.
|