What to Know About Flu Vaccines for 2020
If there was ever a year to follow through on your annual flu vaccine resolution, it’s 2020. With the vaccine becoming increasingly available, as well as formulated for different populations, there’s no excuse not to protect yourself and your family.
Other than newborns and those with rare medical conditions, every person should get a flu vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). That means infants as young as six months, the elderly, and everybody in between.
Of course, some people are more vulnerable to the flu than others. Among those who need to prioritize getting the vaccine are:
- Adults over 65
- Children under 5
- Pregnant Women
- People with chronic health conditions like diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, heart disease, or kidney disease.
- People with cancer or HIV/AIDS
Even if you’re a healthy adult under 65, the negatives involved with getting the flu include missing work, passing it on to school-aged children, having to go to the doctor, and just plain feeling lousy can take more from your quality of life than you might realize.
It’s Never Too Late for the Flu Vaccine
Early to mid-fall is the optimum time to get the flu vaccine for most communities. That’s because it’s best to give your body time to develop protective antibodies before the flu hits your area, which takes about two weeks after you receive the vaccine.
Of course, many people don’t get the vaccine as early as recommended, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late! Even after January, patients should ask their doctor or participating clinics about the availability of the vaccine, according to the CDC.
Why COVID-19 Makes the Flu Vaccine More Urgent
Health experts warn that once flu season collides with the current pandemic crisis, both viruses will become a greater public health risk. Doctors note that both illnesses target the lungs. Because of this factor, what otherwise might have been a mild case of either virus could become much more damaging when a patient is infected with both at the same time. As of January 2022, health officials have confirmed cases of what they’re calling Flurona, which is when a person becomes infected with the flu and COVID-19 at the same time.
In addition, the more patients begin to flood hospitals and laboratories due to influenza, the more strained that health care and testing sites that focus on COVID-19 are expected to become. For this reason, the public is being urged more strongly than ever to get the flu vaccine, to help both themselves and their communities. Reach out to Mobile Speciality Vehicles for any questions related to our mobile clinics that allow you to provide influenza vaccines to patients in your area!
How to Get the Flu Vaccine
Every effort is being made to make getting the flu vaccine as effortless as possible, whether from mobile medical vehicles, local pharmacies, or doctor’s offices. But it’s important to check with your health care provider to see if you need a special kind of vaccine. For example, if you have a severe egg allergy, you’ll need an injection that is specially formulated. Your doctor can help you determine whether or not you’ll need to take any extra steps to receive your vaccine.
Injectable vaccines, or “the flu shot,” are generally deemed safe for almost everyone, including toddlers, seniors, and pregnant women. Nasal sprays may also be offered to the general public, but toddlers, seniors, and pregnant women are advised not to take the flu vaccine nasal spray.
Of course, it’s always important to check with your doctor if you have a chronic condition to determine which flu vaccine is best.
To learn more about our mobile clinics or to begin designing your specialty vehicle for flu shots, reach out to Mobile Specialty Vehicles today! We work with companies around the world, and we build mobile units that are designed to last. Get in touch with us today to start creating your mobile clinic!