How do you get your family geared for the flu season? While the Cocid-19 pandemic has emphasized the need for proper hygiene, you also need to take extra steps to keep your family healthy. Vaccination is among the top measures that have, for years, helped people deal with certain medical issues. Caring for your family, especially with young kids, can be challenging. Integrated Family Medical Center provides comprehensive services to help your family adopt a healthier lifestyle, making it easier to manage all your needs. For instance, you will learn more about the flu, shot, and other delivery models and who is best suited for certain approaches.
The flu shot is not complicated, and it keeps many people from the potential risks of flu-associated hospitalization. It might not be as straightforward, especially as you raise a young family. Should your child get the flu shot, and what should you watch out for? These are some of the frequently asked questions. Here are a few pointers to help you navigate the flu shot as you strive to supercharge your family’s health care.
Age
Flu shots are developed and approved for people of varying ages. Nonetheless, children below six months are deemed too young and should not get the flu shot. As you set a schedule for the flu shot, keep in mind that what is appropriate for your teen child is not the same for 8-months old.
Everyone should get an age-appropriate vaccine. This is more so keeping in mind the standard dose. Some are approved for young children from 6 months, and others can only be administered to adults. Recombinant vaccines, for example, are only administered to people aged 18 years or older. On the other hand, adjuvanted high-dose inactivated flu vaccines are approved for older adults (65 years or older).
Conditions
The flu shot is available for virtually anyone aged six months or older. However, under certain circumstances, you cannot get the shot. Pregnancy, chronic conditions, and certain allergies are among the conditions that prevent you from getting the flu shot. Egg protein is a common allergy, but you still can get the flu shot. Nonetheless, individuals with life-threatening allergies to other ingredients in the vaccine, such as antibiotics and gelatin, should not get the shot.
If you have had a serious allergic reaction to a certain flu dose, you should not get the vaccine again. Moreover, before getting the shot, you need to talk to your doctor even before changing the dose. The doctor will examine you and advise if a flu shot is appropriate. You might not get other influenza vaccines in some instances since it is deemed risky.
If you have a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), you should talk to your doctor before getting the flu shot. GBS is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by severe paralyzing illness. Some users might not get the flu shot as such history puts them at risk.
When getting the flu shot, do not discount any health concerns. For instance, if you are not feeling well, talk to your doctor about the symptoms, ensuring the problem is accounted for before the flu shot.
Caring for your family’s well-being throughout the various seasons can be overwhelming. Nonetheless, with a reliable and reputable family doctor, you will comfortably navigate the waters and keep everyone healthier, active, and happier. Visit Kaplan Desai, MD, a general practitioner, for your family health needs today.