November 2008
Flu shot: Why it's needed
People who get vaccinated against the flu are less likely to spread the illness.
Getting vaccinated against the flu takes on added urgency this year. That's because people weakened by the disease are also
prone to bacterial pneumonia, including a form stemming from increasingly common antibiotic-resistant bacteria. More people
than usual died of such infections last flu season.
We recommend that everyone get an annual flu shot, especially if you're at high risk. Even when the shot doesn't prevent the flu it can make symptoms less severe. And people who get vaccinated are less likely to spread the illness. High-risk groups include people who are pregnant, age 6 months to 4 years, and age 50 or older; those who have a chronic illness such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease; and those who live or work with infants, preschoolers, or older adults.
But getting vaccinated isn't enough, since the shot doesn't offer complete protection. So take these additional precautions:
This article first appeared in the November 2008 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.
We recommend that everyone get an annual flu shot, especially if you're at high risk. Even when the shot doesn't prevent the flu it can make symptoms less severe. And people who get vaccinated are less likely to spread the illness. High-risk groups include people who are pregnant, age 6 months to 4 years, and age 50 or older; those who have a chronic illness such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease; and those who live or work with infants, preschoolers, or older adults.
But getting vaccinated isn't enough, since the shot doesn't offer complete protection. So take these additional precautions:
- Wash your hands. That step, as well as using disinfectant wipes on telephone and computer keyboards, can prevent the transfer of viruses.
- Avoid close contact with sick people. And stay home if you have a cough and fever. Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or the crook of your arm.
- Get plenty of sleep. Sleep-deprived volunteers in one study mustered half the immune response to a flu shot compared with those getting normal
sleep. Eating well, exercising regularly, and reducing stress may also bolster immunity.
- If you smoke, quit. Smokers are vulnerable to the flu and its complications.
- Don't rely on herbs or supplements. None have proved to be effective at preventing the flu—not even such popular products as echinacea, ginseng, or the homeopathic
remedy Oscillococcinum.
This article first appeared in the November 2008 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.
