It's Not Too Late!!

If you haven't got your flu shot this year it is NOT too late! We are huge fans of the flu shot in our house. We have been getting them as a family for 6 years now. Emily hates throwing up so much that she actually looks forward to receiving the vaccine and puts in on her calendar! Lily got to join in the fun this year as well.

Here are some facts about the flu:

• Flu season is from November-April with it's peak in February.
  
• The flu is highly contagious and spread through the air when someone infected coughs, breathes or sneezed
  
• Older adults (over 65) and younger kids (under 5) are the people most likely to have serious side effects from getting the flu.
• more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and; about 36,000 people die from flu.

Facts about the flu vaccine:

• Infants as young as 6 months can safely get the vaccine (they actually need a series of two shots spaced 4 weeks apart)
  
• The flu shot is NOT a live vaccine so you can NOT get the flu from it. There is the option of getting the flu mist (inhaled through the nose) which, does contain a weakened live flu virus and is recommended for healthy individuals between the ages of 2-49).
  
• The vaccine takes a couple weeks to give you protection (so get it now!).
  
• It is safe to get the shot if you are pregnant (and even more important).

Getting the flu shot is not a sure guarantee that you will not get the flu. Each year, scientists develop a vaccine made up of the flu viruses that are believed to be the ones most likely to infect people that year. However because the flu virus mutates each year sometimes the flu that is going around is different than the flu vaccination. The good new is that if you do get the flu when you are vaccinated it usually is MUCH milder than if you hadn't got the flu shot.

So what are you waiting for? Go get one!