Flu shot: Will it prevent the stomach flu?

I got the flu shot last year, but I still got the stomach flu. Why should I bother getting it again this year if it doesn’t work? Answer from James M. Steckelberg, M.D. The flu shot protects against influenza, which isn’t the same thing as the stomach flu (gastroenteritis). Gastroenteritis is an infection caused by [...]

How Can I Prevent the Flu if I Have HIV/AIDS?

While it is difficult for most people to prevent the flu, it is possible to reduce the risk of serious flu complications. That’s why the CDC recommends that high risk groups, those with chronic conditions such as patients with HIV/AIDS , should receive the influenza vaccine with a flu shot. Being vaccinated against influenza is [...]

How Can Older Adults Prevent the Flu?

The best way to prevent the seasonal flu is to get an annual flu vaccine. Getting a seasonal flu shot is a very smart idea. It reduces hospitalization by about 70% and death by about 85% among older adults who do not live in nursing homes, according to the National Institute on Aging. Among nursing [...]

Is the Flu Shot Dangerous During Pregnancy?

The flu shot does not contain the live virus and cannot give you the flu. Some women do have fatigue and muscle aches due to their immune system responding to the vaccine. In addition, the flu shot is also safewhile breastfeeding. It cannot cause you or your nursing baby to get sick. The shot takes [...]

When does flu season begin?

Flu season can begin as early as October and last as late as May. October or November is the best time to get the flu vaccine, but you can still get vaccinated in January or later. The flu shot becomes effective about two weeks after your vaccination.