Health Experts Say Flu Shot Is as Important as Wearing Seatbelt

Have you got your flu shot for the year? Not to be confused with the common cold, the flu is a particularly dangerous viral infection that's characterized by symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, headache, coughing and malaise. The symptoms typically manifest within two to three days of exposure, though they can last for up to three weeks. While there's no foolproof way to protect against the flu virus, you can lower your risk of catching it by getting a flu shot.

How the Fly Shot Is Like Wearing a Seatbelt

According to Dr. Andrew Pavia of the University of Utah and Primary Children's Hospital, getting a flu shot is akin to wearing a seatbelt. Flu shots don't always work. In some cases, they may offer immunity to a different strain of the virus than the one to which you are exposed. In other cases, your body may ineffectively respond to a flu shot, meaning your body doesn't produce the necessary antibodies to defend against the flu virus. Generally speaking, though, the flu shot is highly effective at reducing the risk of the flu.

"It’s a lot like wearing a seatbelt — a preventive measure that can save your life, even if it’s only 50% effective most years," said Dr. Andrew Pavia.

How Common Is the Flu?

You might be wondering how common the flu really is. Well, rates of flu infection vary from year to year. During some years, more people catch the flu than in others. Statistics generally show, however, that about one in 10 unvaccinated adults fall victim to the flu virus each year in the United States.

Based on these figures, flu infections are less common than cold infections. But don't let that fool you into thinking the flu is a harmless illness. Each year, it's responsible for tens of thousands of deaths in the United States.

Why You Need a Flu Shot

You'll be less likely to catch the flu this year if you get a flu shot. Medical professionals tend to agree that getting the flu shot is the single most effective way to lower your risk of catching the flu.

Just how effective is the flu shot? Because the flu shot changes from year to year, there's no easy answer to this question. With that said, its effectiveness usually ranges from about 30% to 60%. As a result, it can often mean the difference between staying healthy and catching this highly contagious and troubling viral illness.