As we enter the holiday season, it’s important to prioritize your health, both for yourself and the people around you. Here at Liberty Doctors we see an influx of flu cases every year around this time.
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness that can cause mild to severe symptoms. It can lead to hospitalization and even death in some cases. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu shot.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flu vaccine can prevent millions of illnesses and flu-related doctor’s visits each year. During the 2019-2020 flu season, the flu vaccine prevented an estimated 7.5 million influenza illnesses, 3.7 million influenza-associated medical visits, 105,000 influenza-associated hospitalizations, and 6,300 influenza-associated deaths.
Getting a flu shot can also reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization. The flu vaccine prevents tens of thousands of hospitalizations each year. For example, during the 2019-2020 flu season, flu vaccination prevented an estimated 105,000 flu-related hospitalizations.
Flu vaccination has also been shown in several studies to reduce the severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick. A 2021 study showed that among adults hospitalized with flu, vaccinated patients had a 26% lower risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and a 31% lower risk of death from flu compared with those who were unvaccinated.
In addition to getting a flu shot, there are other ways to prevent the spread of the flu. Washing your hands frequently, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, and covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze can all help prevent the spread of the flu.
At Liberty Doctors, we recommend getting a flu shot as an important step in protecting yourself and others around you. It can prevent illness, hospitalization, and even death. If you haven’t already, make sure to talk to your Liberty Doctors provider about getting a flu shot.
[The sources and studies mentioned in this article can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccine-benefits.htm