What You Need To Know About Flu Shots DC

By Mattie Knight


More than 660,000 people live in Washington, DC, the nation's capital. The population density in this bustling city is more than 10,000 in a square mile. You don't need to be an expert to realize that flu shots DC are a necessity. Who would govern the country if everyone in the capital happened to be debilitated by a communicable disease for a week or more out of every 12 months.

Every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that anywhere from three thousand to 49 thousand people die from influenza. Many others develop chronic breathing problems. Complications of the flu include viral or bacterial pneumonia, asthma, or sinus infections.

The symptoms of influenza are caused by a virus, and not a bacterium. For this reason, it is impossible to cure the disease with antibiotics or other types of medication. It can, however, be held at bay by a community health program of immunization. In those people who are immunized but continue to get the disease anyway, it is much less serious. This is why the World Health Organization, known familiarly as WHO, encourage everyone to get a jab every year.

Rare is the individual over the age of six months that is not recommended to have an annual vaccination. People who are particularly at high risk are those over the age of 65, pregnant women, children under five years old (especially those under two), and people who live in nursing homes. American Indians and natives of Alaska also seem to be at higher risk for complications of influenza.

There is a long list of medical conditions in whom influenza jabs are recommended. These include, as mentioned, those with asthma, as well as people with chronic lung disease such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis. People with disorders of the immune system, kidney, liver or endocrine system are also strongly urged to be vaccinated on an annual basis. Other candidates for immunization are people with heart conditions, metabolic disorders, people under the age of 19 who are on long-term aspirin treatment. Individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40 are also urged to get vaccinated.

As with any other health condition that affects a large number of people, a number of myths and legends have developed around the topic of influenza shots. Pregnant women, for example, do not need special permission from their regular doctor if they choose to become immunized at a pharmacy or in a clinic at their workplace.

Another popular myth is that people can get the actual influenza disease when they have the vaccination. This myth originates from the fact that some vaccines contain viral particles. However, when present, these viruses have been inactivated so it is completely impossible to get the disease from the vaccine. Occasionally, people experience flu-like side effects like an elevated temperature, headache and muscular aches and pains.

It is important to note that influenza is a respiratory disease. It is not to be mistaken with what people call stomach flu, which consists of vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. While these may accompany influenza, when these symptoms present on their own they are not presumptive of influenza.




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