Why Getting Your Flu Shot is Essential For a Healthy Fall & Winter

As we begin to pull the heavy coats and rain boots from the closet, it's an important reminder that the fall and winter seasons also mean flu (and COVID-19 and RSV) season is upon us.

Experts are urging everyone who can to get the flu vaccine to ensure your body's immune system will have time to ramp up its resistance to the virus before the flu season hits its peak.

What Causes the Flu?

Because flu season occurs during the winter, you might think cold weather is what causes more people to catch influenza. However, influenza is like any other virus: it spreads from person to person.

When the weather gets cold, we tend to spend more time indoors, leading to more opportunities to encounter someone infected with the flu.

This is why you should be vaccinated against the flu by the end of October. This gives your body and the vaccine enough time to develop antibodies that protect against infection ahead of major holidays and any severe weather that generally cause the virus to spread more rapidly.

Why Vaccinate?

According to the CDC, studies are done each year on how well the flu vaccine performs. For instance, during the 2019-2020 flu season before COVID-19 was a factor, the flu shot vaccine prevented an estimated 7.5 million influenza illnesses, 3.7 million influenza-associated medical visits, 105,000 influenza-associated hospitalizations and 6,300 influenza-associated deaths.

Beyond avoiding illness, the flu shot has also been very effective in preventing serious illness and reduces the risk of aggravating existing chronic conditions like heart disease or lung disease.

If you are pregnant, the flu shot could reduce your risk of flu-associated acute respiratory infection by 50%.

There are numerous complications that could arise from a flu infection, as well. These include bacterial pneumonia, ear infection, sinus infection and even inflammation of the heart, brain or muscles.

Why Vaccinate?

According to the CDC, studies are done each year on how well the flu vaccine performs. For instance, during the 2019-2020 flu season before COVID-19 was a factor, the flu shot vaccine prevented an estimated 7.5 million influenza illnesses, 3.7 million influenza-associated medical visits, 105,000 influenza-associated hospitalizations and 6,300 influenza-associated deaths.

Beyond avoiding illness, the flu shot has also been very effective in preventing serious illness and reduces the risk of aggravating existing chronic conditions like heart disease or lung disease.

The same goes for receiving the latest COVID-19 vaccine, which may not prevent you from catching the virus but does protect you from severe symptoms, hospitalization and even death.

If you are pregnant, the flu shot could reduce your risk of flu-associated acute respiratory infection by 50%.

There are numerous complications that could arise from a flu infection, as well. These include bacterial pneumonia, ear infection, sinus infection and even inflammation of the heart, brain or muscles.

Where Can You Get The Flu Shot?

EvergreenHealth offers numerous ways for you to receive your flu shot and other seasonal vaccinations. You can schedule an appointment with your EvergreenHealth Primary Care provider for these vaccines along with a regular checkup. EvergreenHealth Pharmacy’s Weidner Vaccination Clinic also offers appointments for a wide variety of vaccinations.

You can also search for a location near you with free flu shots at vaccines.gov.

Helpful Healthy Habits

There are other ways to prevent catching or spreading diseases, many of which you've likely heard already.

Whether you're a healthy habit advocate or you've let mitigation practices slip, here are five simple things in addition to getting vaccinated you can do to help prevent spreading diseases:

1. Avoid close contact with anyone who is or may be sick
2. Stay home when you are sick
3. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
4. Wash your hands often
5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

While these five habits are important, eating nutritious foods, cleaning frequently touched surfaces and staying physically active will greatly improve your health and help prevent infections.