{"id":14712,"date":"2018-10-18T14:00:03","date_gmt":"2018-10-18T14:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.nnlm.gov\/ner\/?p=14712"},"modified":"2018-10-25T14:07:10","modified_gmt":"2018-10-25T14:07:10","slug":"get-you-flu-shot-and-have-a-healthier-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.nnlm.gov\/region_7\/2018\/10\/18\/get-you-flu-shot-and-have-a-healthier-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Get Your Flu Shot and Have a Healthier Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

\"illustration

Illustration from the CDC showing Herd Immunity, also known as Community Immunity<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s that time of year again, the wind turns cold, the leaves change color and everyone is talking about the flu.\u00a0 This year get the facts and get vaccinated to protect yourself, your family and your community.<\/p>\n

Anyone can get the flu and have serious complications, but people over 65, people with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease, pregnant women and children under five are at higher risk for hospitalization or death from the flu.<\/p>\n

Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu shot every season<\/a>. Children younger than 6 months and people who are allergic to some vaccine ingredients can\u2019t be vaccinated. So getting your flu shot also protects them by containing the spread of the flu virus.<\/p>\n

Why every year?\u00a0 Because the flu strains that the vaccine protects against may change from year to year.\u00a0 Even if it doesn\u2019t change, the immune protection can decline over time, so getting your flu shot every year gives the best defense.<\/p>\n

There are a lot of misconceptions and myths about the flu and the vaccine.\u00a0 Below are some of the most common, but to learn more about flu and flu vaccine myths, visit the CDC\u2019s Flu and Flu Vaccine Q&A page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. You can get the flu from the vaccine.\n