Flu Shots Treatment

Who needs a flu shot?

Spring Valley Internal Medicine recommends that all patients follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, which advise yearly flu shots for everyone starting at 6 months old. 

When should I schedule my flu shot?

You should consult with your Spring Valley Internal Medicine provider, but in general it's best to have your flu vaccination by the end of October each year. Getting your flu shot earlier, in July or August, could potentially leave you less protected against flu in the later part of the flu season. 

Are flu shots safe?

Flu shots have a 50-year history of safely reducing the risk of acquiring and spreading the flu. Thanks to this excellent safety record, all the leading medical experts consider flu shots the most effective and reliable way to avoid the flu. 

How do flu shots prevent the flu?

Flu shots contain either a small amount of inactive virus or a particle that tricks your immune system into thinking it’s the flu virus. This launches your body’s immune response, which includes producing antibodies that attack and destroy the flu virus if it tries to enter your body. 

Will a flu shot give me the flu?

No. It’s a common misconception. After your flu shot, you may have certain mild symptoms that can mimic the start of the flu, including:

• Low-grade fever
• Headache
• Body aches
• Nausea

You may also have some mild irritation at the site of the injection. Symptoms abate within a couple of days. These symptoms are evidence of your body’s immune response, which means the shot’s working just as it should to help you build antibodies. 

Which influenza strains does the flu shot protect against?

Flu shots change every year, according to what flu strains researchers expect to be the most common during the flu season. Flu shots protect you from 3-4 influenza viruses, depending on the type of flu shot. 

There are typically multiple flu vaccine variants from different manufacturers each flu season, and the Spring Valley Internal Medicine team can recommend the one that’s right for you. 

Don’t risk your health or even your life over a preventable virus. Schedule your flu shot at Spring Valley Internal Medicine by calling the office nearest you or booking online.