Protecting Everybody From the Flu Starts With You

Fall is a great time for apple picking, touch football, corn mazes — and flu shots. While flu vaccines are available for multiple months, getting one as early as you can offers maximum protection for yourself and others. If you don’t have insurance, a Medicare health insurance broker can help you find an insurer to cover flu shots and other essentials.



Common Flu Myths and How They Are Wrong

Unfortunately, flu misconceptions prevent some people from getting their flu vaccines. The reality is that when you get your shot, you protect yourself and a lot of other people. Here are some top flu shot myths.

I Have Never Gotten the Flu So Don’t Need a Vaccine

Why risk getting the flu now? Even a moderate case may give you fever and chills, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, and fatigue for days. It may mean taking time off work and getting people around you sick.

The flu virus is pretty contagious, and some people spread it before knowing they are sick. People with weaker immune systems remain contagious for longer, too. Getting the flu shot protects you and others since you are less likely to spread the flu.

The Shot Doesn't Work

The shot reduces a person's chances of getting the flu by 40% to 60%. For people who do get the flu, the shot typically makes them less sick. The odds of having to see the doctor or be hospitalized are much lower.

Furthermore, if enough people get vaccinated, then community immunity can result. When much of the population has flu shots, the virus has a harder time spreading. These barriers are a great help to young infants and other people with certain medical conditions who cannot get vaccinated.

A Flu Shot Won’t Protect Me for Long Enough

The flu season lasts about six months, and some people wait to get their shots thinking that a vaccine can't protect them that long. If they get a shot halfway through, they feel they might be protected for the remaining three months.

The good news is that a flu shot provides protection for the entire flu season. If you get it in September or October, you give your body even more time to build antibodies for comprehensive protection. A Medicare health insurance broker can help you find insurance coverage options today.

A Shot Is My Only Option

Flu shots are the most common way people get vaccinated, but a nasal spray alternative is available. Many people ages 2 to 49 can get it. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you're thinking of going this route since you should not if you have certain conditions.

I'll Get Sick From the Shot

In the majority of cases, soreness or redness at the injection site is the only side effect. Some people do experience further effects such as muscle aches and fever. They typically remain mild and last a few days. The flu, meanwhile, has much more serious repercussions.

It Might Give Me the Flu

Vaccines do not contain active flu viruses. You cannot get infected with the actual flu from the vaccines.

Common Questions About Getting Flu Vaccines

Here are some common questions that Medicare health insurance brokers hear to further clarify the truth behind these flu myths.

Why Get the Flu Vaccine?

The flu vaccine protects you and the people around you, including your family members, friends, colleagues, and many more. Babies, senior citizens, and pregnant people are at higher risk of flu complications. So are people with asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses.

The shots are usually affordable. Health insurers typically cover them, and it can be a big time saver to get the shot at the same time as another medical appointment.

When Should I Get the Vaccine?

September and October are the ideal times since you get protection before the flu season kicks into full swing. The shot needs about two weeks to work as fully as possible.

Should Everyone Get the Shot?

Most people at least 6 months old should get the vaccine. Talk with your doctor about whether you might be one of the rare exceptions.

Health insurance can help you proactively prevent and manage many conditions such as the flu and save you considerable money on various expenses. Contact us at Sackett & Associates Insurance Services today for help finding the right plan for your needs.