With an increase in world travel, influenza is no longer a seasonal illness, which means you can catch it any time.
“The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) is saying you should get the vaccine as soon as it’s available,” said Gwen Hadley, Weber-Morgan Health Department assistant nursing director. “Influenza is circulating all the time. It’s no longer a traditional late fall, early winter illness.”
This year’s vaccine is the same as last year’s, but even if you were vaccinated last year, you still need to be vaccinated this year, because immunity declines over time and may be too low to provide protection after a year.
Symptoms of the flu include
- fever
- headache
- extreme tiredness
- cough
- sore throat
- runny or stuffy nose
- body aches
- diarrhea and vomiting
Flu can cause serious complications, including bacterial pneumonia, dehydration and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes. Although influenza is always circulating, an increase in the illness is typically seen from October to May and peaks around January. It takes about two weeks for the body to build an immunity after receiving the vaccine.
