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To flu shot or not to flu shot
There are many debates in households across America about whether or not the flu vaccination is safe. The flu is an infection of the nose, throat and lungs caused by a virus. Many times people can overcome the flu with proper treatment without a problem, but the virus does run the risk of being very harmful and in rare cases death can ensue.

Every year thousand upon thousands of people are hospitalized because of complications caused by the untreated virus, and getting a flu shot each year can help prevent this from happening to you. When making your decision of whether you should get a flu shot you should consider the following:

- A flu shot may not always prevent you from contracting the virus. However, if you do get the vaccination, it have been known to reduce symptoms, and ultimately lessen the risk of complications.

- It is most important for people who at high-risk for having complications to get a flu shot. Those at high risk are women who are pregnant, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. However anyone over the age of six month can get a flu shot.

- Also, if you are a caregiver for someone who is at high risk, it is recommended that you too get a flu shot. This will reduce the chance that you will spread the virus to someone who is at high risk.

- The flu shot is not meant for everyone. You should consult your doctor id you have an allergy to eggs, if you have had the flu shot in the past and you experienced a bad reaction, if you are ill, and children that are younger than six months.

-Also, the flu virus change frequently, and with the frequency of the change in flu come the change in the vaccination as well. So you should get a flu shot every fall.

- And contrary to popular belief you cannot contract the virus from the flu shot.

Many belived the flu shot was one of the causes of the flu, and it was thought to be the culprit because the flu shot itself contains a killed form of three strains of the influenza virus. The vaccine will cause your immune system to make antibodies, so that if you are exposed to the influenza virus, the antibodies will attack and destroy the virus.

The benefits to getting the flu shot out way the consequences to foregoing the seasonal vaccination. Some of the problems that might result from a flu shot are temporary soreness, redness, swelling at the site of the shot. There is a slim chance that you will get a fever or muscles aches a day or two after the shot. but still not as bad as it could be if you contract the actual virus. The worst possible side effect of the flu shot is an allergic reaction, but that has only been known to happen in very rare cases.

Be sure, before you get vaccinated, consult your doctor to see if you are a candidate for the shot.