Influenza (also known as flu) is a potentially serious disease caused by airborne viruses usually in the cold winter seasons.  During every flu season throughout the world, influenza infection can affect millions of people.  The best way to help protect against flu is to have a yearly flu vaccination.

Symptoms of Flu Infection

The symptoms of mild flu infection are;

• high fever
• sore throat
• cough
• chills and rigors
• body and muscle aches
• tiredness and fatigue
• headache

However in vulnerable people, flu can spread to cause middle ear or lung infections as well as bronchitis and pneumonia which requires hospitalisation and even death.

Benefits of Flu Vaccination

Although one may still get infected after vaccination, the flu vaccination has been shown to reduce the severity of illness in these people.  Vaccination reduces the length of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, duration of hospitalisation and death especially in people with chronic heart or lung conditions. 

Click to view UCSDH video on Flu Vaccine

How does Flu Vaccination work?

Flu vaccines gets the body to start making antibodies around two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against flu virus infection.  The quadrivalent flu vaccine protects against 4 different flu viruses; namely 2 influenza A viruses and 2 influenza B viruses while the trivalent flu vaccine protects against 2 influenza A viruses and 1 influenza B virus.

Who should have Flu Vaccination?

CDC recommends influenza (flu) vaccination for everyone every year especially when travelling to overseas to colder climates.

See your Doctor to discuss whether you need a Yearly Flu Vaccine

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If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition, you should seek immediate medical attention from your doctor or other professional healthcare providers. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.