SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital - Mt. Vernon issued the following announcement on Oct. 16.
In the age of COVID-19, many consumers are trying to become more knowledgeable about their health. One term that has been moving into public awareness is the “high-dose” flu vaccine. What is it? And should you try to get one when you make time to get your annual flu shot?
To get some answers, we turned to Chris Zirges, director of infection prevention for SSM Health.
So, how about it, Chris? Is the high-dose flu vaccine a good idea for everyone?
“The high-dose flu vaccine is really just based on age,” she said. “It’s designed for people who are 65 and older. It’s more of a boost for the immune system because, as we age, our immune systems tend to wane.”
If you’re under 65, “the regular flu vaccine is just fine,” she added.
One of the most common flu shots, and the one that SSM Health provides, is the quadrivalent, which means it covers four different strains of the flu virus.
“Scientists from around the world have flu surveillance going on 12 months a year,” she said. “They predict which strains we will see and then the vaccines are created.”
Sometimes, a different strain will dominate flu season because this is not an exact science, Zirges said.
“If you look at the statistics,” she said, “a good vaccine is 40 to 60 percent effective when the vaccine is well-matched to the circulating viruses in a particular year. People may say, ‘Why should I take a flu shot if it may only be 50 percent effective?’ And the answer is, if you do get the flu and have had a vaccine, you won’t be as sick. It’s still some protection.
“When we’re in a pandemic, we don’t want to have a flu pandemic as well.”
A flu shot is not an iron-clad guarantee of health, but it can help. The flu can have a negative impact on your immune system, and you want it to be as strong as possible when you’re trying to stay COVID-free, Zirges said.
But the measures we take to protect ourselves from the coronavirus can go a long way to help ward off the flu, she added.
“Wear your mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands, cover your cough. With many people working from home, we’re hopeful that this will minimize any influenza outbreak.”
Have you gotten your flu shot? Schedule a visit with a physician’s office, urgent care or SSM Health Express Clinic at Walgreens.
Original source can be found here.
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