86/365 Protect Yourself from La Grippe

Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,

My mother is a nurse. My father is a nurse. My aunts are nurses. I think you get the picture of the kind of home I was raised in. My sister and I have had the understanding that the flu shot is good for you since we were babes. So, without my mother's impetus, I got my flu shot today. For some of you, this may be a routine thing that you do every year. Cheers! For others, the influenza vaccine is suspect, something you don't trust. We can all agree though that not having the flu is better than having it.

Here are the facts and the reasons why I believe in the flu shot:

1. Influenza (the flu or La Grippe) is a contagious disease that can be spread by coughing, sneezing, or nasal secretions.
2. If you have a weakened immune system, getting the flu could exacerbate you and make your existing medical conditions worse.
3. The influenza viruses are always changing. Scientists try to match the viruses in the vaccine to those most likely to cause the flu that year. This means that last year's vaccine is not the same as this year's. This year's protects against H1N1 and two other influenza viruses.
4. If you are in school, you can most likely get the vaccine for free at your Student Health Clinic. If you work in a hospital setting, it is most likely offered by your employer. Local pharmacies administer the flu shot at reasonable prices as well.
5. You cannot get the flu from the inactivated influenza vaccine (the flu shot) because the viruses are dead.

Of course, there is a risk for allergic reactions. It is after all a medicine. Some people should not get the inactivated influenza virus. Before you are administered the vaccine, the nurse will give you a questionnaire that can determine whether you are eligible or not. For more information, click here. Get your flu shot today and protect yourself and others from spreading the virus.

In health,

Lauren