Tweet

Vaccinations have been a hot topic up for debate. Parents debate all over the world whether they should get themselves and their kids vaccinated against different viruses including the measles, mumps, or rubella.  

One vaccination that parents shouldn’t have up for debate is the influenza vaccination, according to Kelly Hoover.  

“People should get the flu shot because getting the flu is different than having an intestinal virus. When you get the flu its much worse,” said Nurse Hoover. “The virus takes a while to get out of one’s system. Most people with the virus are left feeling awful with symptoms including body aches and fevers.” 

The seasonal influenza virus can be detected year-round in the United States, but the flu virus is most common during the seasons of fall and winter.  Cases of influenza begin to increase in October and peak between December through February, but could last as late as May.

The overall health impact of a flu season varies from season to season. 

Many Americans believe that they don’t need the flu vaccination and don’t get it for several reasons.  

“Some kids don’t get the flu shot because of their lack of knowledge about the flu shot and their lack of awareness about where flu shots are given,” said Nurse Hoover.  

Five to twenty percent of the United States population will get the flu, on average, each year. The average number of Americans hospitalized each year because of the flu is 200,000 people, and 3,000 to 49,000 people die each year from the flu.