As the cooler weather arrives, or has arrived in much of the country our minds naturally turn to flu vaccines and other natural remedies to ward off those wintertime illnesses. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) is the primary arm of the Department of Health and Human Services in achieving four health protections. The four health protections are, Healthy People In Every Stage of Life, Healthy People In Healthy Places, People Prepared for Emerging Health Threats, and Healthy People in a Healthy World.

The two main questions for this post are:

What is the flu? 

According to WebMD, the flu (influenza) comes in both types A and B. It generally occurs in the winter and spring months. This extremely contagious respiratory illness is caused by a virus. It is characterized by similar symptoms as that other respiratory contagion, the common cold. The big difference is that the symptoms with the flu are much more severe and much quicker in their appearance. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, headache, and respiratory congestion. There are only a few antiviral medications approved to treat the flu and none approved to treat the common cold but there is no cure for either.

Should I get A Flu Shot?

According to the CDC, the flu shot, which contains dead virus, and is given by injection, is approved for everyone from six months on. It is even approved for people with chronic health conditions. Here is the list, direct from the CDC website, of who should get vaccinated.

1. Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday

2. Pregnant women

3. People 50 years of age and older

4. People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions

5. People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities

6. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:

a. Health care workers

b. Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu

c. Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

The CDC also has criteria for those who should not be vaccinated:

1. People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs

2. People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination

3. People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine

4. Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group)

5. People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated)

According to the CDC, the flu shot uses inactivated virus. This means that the virus is dead and there is no chance of developing the flu from the flu shot. This is not the case with the Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine, which uses weakened but live flu virus. Most side effects from the flu shot are minor and can include: soreness and redness at the injections site, a low grade fever, and body aches.  There is some controversy as to the effectiveness of the vaccine as the CDC uses a predictive approach based on the strains that are currently circulating to determine which inactive strain would be most effective. Most of the time this approach works, sometimes it does not. In the end it is up to the individual to determine whether or not to receive the flu vaccine.

Click HERE to find a flu clinic near you.