Winter time often brings cases of influenza, causing symptoms like fevers, muscle pains, headaches, nausea, and extreme fatigue. Modern medicine helps alleviate some discomfort, but it doesn’t always protect against the flu. Many people are surprised when they get the flu even after receiving a flu shot, which is supposed to safeguard them from the illness. It’s important to understand the effectiveness of flu shots, factors that might impact their efficacy, how the flu is treated, and what you can do to prevent and treat influenza.
Understanding the Flu Shot’s Effectiveness
In some years, the flu vaccine has been estimated to be 50-60% effective. However, last season, the CDC reported the overall vaccine effectiveness was only 19% protective against influenza, meaning it reduced the risk of a person needing medical care for flu illness by 19%.
The effectiveness of a flu shot can depend on several factors:
- How well the vaccine is matched to the circulating influenza virus, as the virus changes from year to year
- The age, health, and immune status of the person vaccinated
Even experts from the CDC suggest that vaccine effectiveness can vary depending on these factors. So, it’s important to understand the nature of the flu, as well as your health and immune status.
Influenza
In North America, on average, 5-20% of the population catches the flu each year, with 200,000 people being hospitalized and 36,000 people dying from it. Influenza viruses are classified into types A, B, and C, with type A causing most influenza epidemics.
Flu Treatment
Flu treatment involves acting quickly to fight the flu virus and detoxifying the body through cleansing if symptoms arise. After achieving early treatment, relief of symptoms can be considered. Treating only the symptoms with pain relievers and suppressants can allow the virus to replicate unchecked in the bloodstream. Symptoms, like mucous, pain, and loss of appetite, are the body’s way of protecting itself.
Recognizing the rapid progression of respiratory symptoms is crucial, so if needed, you can visit an emergency room or urgent care center for help. Here, you might receive treatments like:
1. IV fluids to maintain optimal mineral/electrolyte and fluid status
2. Anti-inflammatory medications to prevent lungs from filling with fluids (corticosteroids)
3. Oxygen and bronchodilators to open the lungs for oxygenation
4. IV diuretics to prevent unwanted fluid buildup in the lungs and other organs
5. Nasal swab to test for the flu strain
Treating influenza with the antiviral medication, Tamiflu®, has been shown to decrease the duration of illness by about two days. However, influenza viruses can become resistant to these drugs and might not always work. Therefore, preventive measures like early detection of symptoms, quarantine, hand-washing, and immune-strengthening measures are more effective than relying solely on the drug Tamiflu.
What Can You Do?
Instead of relying solely on the flu shot to protect yourself, there are better methods to preventing and treating influenza:
- Maintain a healthy diet filled with whole, natural foods rich in vitamins and minerals that can strengthen your immune system
- Exercise regularly to keep your body and immune system in top shape
- Get enough sleep, as a lack of sleep makes you more susceptible to infections
- Wash your hands frequently and properly with soap and warm water, especially during flu season
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick or have flu-like symptoms
- Avoid touching your face, as germs can spread through mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, and mouth
In conclusion, it’s essential to understand that the flu shot’s effectiveness can vary and is not a guaranteed protection against the flu. Taking preventive and immune-boosting measures and knowing when to seek medical attention are vital in preventing and treating influenza.
