The flu season is here and the Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) wants to encourage you to ward off the flu by getting vaccinated.
After vaccination, it takes about 2 weeks for the body to develop protection. Flu shots are the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones against the flu and its potentially serious impacts. The vaccine is safe and recommended for everyone six months and older, including pregnant women. To locate a flu shot near you, contact your health care provider or use the Florida Department of Health’s flu shot locator: www.floridahealth.gov/findaflushot.
Flu is a respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. There are 2 main types of influenza viruses: Types A and B. The influenza A and B viruses that routinely spread in individuals (human influenza viruses) are responsible for seasonal flu each year.
Flu can cause mild to severe illness. Fever, cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, and headaches are common symptoms. Some groups, such as older adults, young children, individuals who are pregnant, and those with certain health conditions, are at higher risk of serious flu complications.
Flu can spread through respiratory droplets made when individuals with flu cough, sneeze or talk. Less often, a person might get flu by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.
Symptoms can begin about 2 days (but can range from 1-4 days) after the virus enters the body. Additionally, some individuals with flu can be asymptomatic, meaning that they have no symptoms.
You may be able to pass on flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick:
Every flu season is different, and flu can affect everyone differently. It can mean a few days of feeling bad and missing work or result in a more serious illness. Seasonal flu shots are designed to protect against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season.
All flu shots in the U.S. are “quadrivalent” vaccines, which means they protect against 4 different influenza viruses: an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus, and 2 influenza B viruses.
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