The flu, also called influenza, is a sickness/viral infection that leaves one feeling feverish and tired with body aches. Globally, seasonal influenza still kills up to 650,000 people annually. The flu vaccine helps protect many people from getting the flu and the serious effects that arise from it. Fortunately, the flu vaccine is affordable, making it easy to protect yourself without a significant cost. Not only does investing in the flu vaccine protect your health, but it also helps to relieve the strain on healthcare systems.
Benefits of Flu Vaccine
There are multiple benefits of the flu vaccine, especially in terms of preventing certain health conditions or illness and reducing the spread of the flu. Here are some of the notable benefits of flu vaccine:
1. Protects You and Others
The flu vaccine decreases your chance of getting the flu. Even if you do catch the flu, the vaccine may lessen your chance of getting very sick. This means fewer doctor visits and hospital stays. During the 2019-2020 flu season, the flu vaccine prevented up to about 7 million illnesses and 7,000 deaths. The benefits of flu vaccine extend to reducing the burden on healthcare systems by lowering the number of flu-related complications. With the flu vaccine cost being low, it’s a worthwhile investment for a healthy year.
2. Beneficial for Mothers-to-be
Pregnant women are at a higher risk for serious flu complications, making the flu vaccine more important than ever to protect the mother and the baby. Additionally, the vaccine is safe during pregnancy and can prevent severe illness. By receiving the flu vaccine pregnancy, expectant mothers can significantly reduce the risks of flu-related complications, providing both short-term and long-term health benefits.
3. Helps Prevent Serious Illness
One of the benefits of the flu vaccine is that it helps prevent serious health problems and eases the burden on hospitals. Flu infections can evolve into serious health complications like pneumonia that force patients into hospital care. People who receive flu vaccinations are protected from serious flu-related consequences, including lung infections and health complications that affect those with pre-existing medical conditions.
4. Protects Vulnerable Groups
Vaccination not only protects you from viral infection, it also protects people who are at high risk of serious flu complications — such as older adults, children less than 5 years old, and people with certain health conditions. The flu vaccine for kids protects them as well as helps prevent them from spreading the flu, especially to their elderly relatives who have less immunity. Older adults benefit from the vaccine as it helps prevent severe flu-related complications, such as hospitalization or death, highlighting the benefits of flu vaccine for people of all ages.
Key Features of Considering Flu Vaccine
The flu vaccine is a reliable way to protect both adults and children from the virus. Below are key features that make it a safe, cost-effective and practical choice for preventing the flu and staying healthy:
Safe for Adults and Children
Most people, including adults and children older than six months, can be safely vaccinated against the flu. It does not cause the flu. Some people get mild flu vaccine side effects, such as a sore arm or a slight fever which goes away on its own. In fact, in the 2019-2020 flu season, the vaccine was 41% effective overall and 54% effective in people aged 65 years or older. It is therefore important to get the flu vaccine for adults, particularly because they are more susceptible to complications . Similarly, the flu vaccine for kids is equally important for the protection of children and to decrease the spread of the virus to others.
Saves Time and Money
After vaccination against the flu you can continue attending work or school because the vaccine stops you from getting sick. The vaccine enables people to have fewer sick days and reduce their medical expenses. flu vaccine cost is affordable and widely available making it an effective way to protect yourself. Not only does it help to save on medical expenses but also it contributes to the productivity of workplaces and schools. This makes the flu vaccine for adults a wise investment in your long-term health, helping you stay active and healthy all year.
Flu Vaccine Cost and Annual Vaccination Recommendations
People and their communities gain protection through the flu vaccine which functions as an essential preventative treatment for seasonal influenza. In India, the flu vaccine cost depends on the healthcare provider and the brand of vaccine administered, generally falling between ₹800 to ₹2,500.
The Centers for Disease Control Prevention(CDC) and other health authorities recommend regular annual flu vaccine administration for all people, starting from the age of six months. This yearly vaccination is essential because flu viruses evolve over time, and the vaccine is updated each season to protect against most prevalent strains. Moreover, to maintain the best level of protection against flu, individuals need to get their annual vaccine since vaccine effectiveness decreases with time.
Takeaways
You can protect yourself and the people around you from the flu by getting a flu vaccine every year. Why annually, because the flu virus changes in time and so does the vaccine also gets updated to protect against the current flu strain. With the flu vaccine cost being low, it’s a smart choice for everyone. Flu vaccine for adults and children helps protect them from illness and lowers the risk of severe illness. Get vaccinated today and consult your doctor about the best ways to protect yourself from the flu and maintain your health.
