You should get the flu shot as soon as possible. here's why

The flu season began last month and continues until March. If you have not received your flu shot, here is why you should do it as soon as possible.

The latest figures from the state's health department indicate that the flu season has begun quietly across Texas. Dr. Carolee Estelle says that a simple act of prevention could help keep it that way.

"The CDC recommends that every person 6 months of age or older be vaccinated this year, and in fact, every year," said Estelle, Deputy Head of Infection Control at Parkland Hospital System and Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern. Medical Center.

"Infants, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases and immune systems that do not work as well – these are the people most at risk for flu-related complications, such as having to be hospitalized, requiring stays at home. Intensive care unit, even death "continued.

While Estelle says that it's never too late to get vaccinated, it takes the body two weeks after the shot to start producing antibodies that help fight the flu. So, the sooner you get the hang of it, the better it is, for you and for the rest of the community.

Why get vaccinated when it does not guarantee the fluThere are many reasons that can happen. The vaccine is not 100% protection. But there are also different types of flu. When someone gets vaccinated and then gets the flu afterwards, it is possible that he has contracted the infection, but that avoids you from having these complications. This greatly reduces these risks.

What this year's flu vaccine coversYou can receive the trivalent vaccine, which covers two types of influenza A (the H1N1 virus and the H3N2 virus), as well as the B virus. There is also the quadrivalent vaccine, which contains both As viruses, and in fact two. The CDC does not recommend any of these vaccines in relation to each other.

When should you get the flu shot: The flu season extends from October to March. The goal is to get vaccinated before the flu virus spreads in the community. It takes two weeks for your body to start producing these antibodies that protect you from the virus. Of course, you can continue to receive the vaccine throughout the season. It's never too late.

The interview responses have been slightly modified for clarity.