Do I Need a Flu Shot This Year?

October 25, 2023

Yes, of course! We will always recommend that everyone eligible should get a flu shot as early as possible in the season. The flu, COVID-19 and other infections are on the rise already this year, and we expect another few months of high caseloads.

Getting sick is always a possibility, so why not arm yourself with the antibodies you need to ward off influenza this season?

Come see us at AFC Urgent Care Chapman Highway any day of the week for your annual flu vaccine. Read on to learn more about the benefits of this year’s flu shot.

Is the Flu Shot Effective This Year?

The flu shot gets reformulated every year based on the current strains. This reformulation offers you the best protection from the strains that are predicted to be the most impactful. There are nine different flu vaccines available for this season, and they have already been proven to be protective against the circulating strains.

Historically, the flu shot is up to 60% effective in preventing the flu. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get their flu shot by the end of October for the most protection. It takes about two weeks for the antibodies to form inside your body, so you want to give yourself as much time as possible for your immune system to develop what it needs.

Common Signs of the Flu

Fever
Fatigue
Congestion
Body aches
Cough

How Does the Flu Shot Protect You?

The flu vaccine contains deactivated flu virus, which kickstarts an immune response in your body. It does not give you the flu. Instead, it helps your body learn the virus to develop antibodies to fight the real thing if you come into contact with it this season.

If you are exposed to the flu, those antibodies will jump into action to fight the infection before you even start getting sick. If you do still wind up feeling ill, those antibodies will still be able to help manage your symptoms and shorten the duration of your illness. Come see us today for your shot so you can stay healthy all season long!