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Wednesday 11 November 2015

The Facts About Flu Shots DC


By Mattie Knight


More than 660,000 people live in Washington, DC, the nation's capital. The population density in this bustling city is more than 10,000 in a square mile. You don't need to be an expert to realize that flu shots DC are a necessity. Who would govern the country if everyone in the capital happened to be debilitated by a communicable disease for a week or more out of every 12 months.

Every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that anywhere from three thousand to 49 thousand people die from influenza. Many others develop chronic breathing problems. Complications of the flu include viral or bacterial pneumonia, asthma, or sinus infections.

Influenza is itself caused by a virus and cannot be contained by the use of drugs, such as antibiotics. Its incidence can, however, be controlled by having as many people as possible immunized from the disease. Those who go on to develop the disease despite having the vaccine are fortunate to have only a light case. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), everyone should receive a vaccination once every year.

The current advice is that everyone, with few exceptions, be immunized annually. Some people fall into the high risk category and are particularly encouraged to have the shot. These people are those who are more than 65 years old, children under the age of five, especially those under two, and residents of communal living institutions like nursing homes. Apparently, natives of Alaska and American Indians are at increased risk of flu complications; they, too, are advised to have the jab each year.

There is a long list of medical conditions in whom influenza jabs are recommended. These include, as mentioned, those with asthma, as well as people with chronic lung disease such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis. People with disorders of the immune system, kidney, liver or endocrine system are also strongly urged to be vaccinated on an annual basis. Other candidates for immunization are people with heart conditions, metabolic disorders, people under the age of 19 who are on long-term aspirin treatment. Individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40 are also urged to get vaccinated.

Any high profile medical issue attracts certain misconceptions and the influenza vaccination is no exception. One popular myth doing the rounds is that pregnant women need permission from their regular doctor if they want to get the injection at a workplace clinic, pharmacy or anywhere else but their local doctor's office. This is not the case.

Another widely held belief is that the influenza vaccination actually causes the disease. This is quite impossible. Either the injection contains no virus whatsoever, or what virus it does contain has been inactivated. Sometimes people get side effects from the jab, for instance, headache, muscular aches or a low fever. Usually, people will feel a little sensitive around the injection site for a day or two.

Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting are often mistakenly referred to as the "stomach flu." While true influenza may introduce these symptoms as a side effect, in and of themselves they are not caused by an influenza virus.




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