WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS: Currently available flu vaccines are aluminum-free and over 80% of flu vaccines today contain no mercury at all. Some flu vaccines contain a tiny amount of formaldehyde that is less than 1% of the amount naturally found in people and is safely cleared from the body.
How long does immunity from influenza vaccine last? Protection from influenza vaccine is thought to persist for at least 6 months. Protection declines over time because of waning antibody levels and because of changes in circulating influenza viruses from year to year.
Check out these flu vaccine pros and cons before you make your decision.
- Pro: It Won't Give You the Flu. Unlike many other vaccines, flu shots do not contain live flu viruses.
- Con: Egg Allergy.
- Pro: Many Are Free.
- Con: Potential Side Effects.
- Pro: No Sick Days.
- Con: Protection Takes Time.
- Pro: It's Humanitarian.
*As of the most recent update from the CDC ending Week 45, flu season 2020/2021 shows low activity of influenza in all major regions of the United States.
It takes about two weeks for the flu shot to protect you. Ideally, the best time to get the shot is in early September and no later than late October. If you don't get it early, getting a flu shot later still helps. Vaccination earlier may cause protection to weaken by end of the season.
According to data from the U.S. Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network on 4,112 children and adults with acute respiratory illness during October 23, 2019–January 25, 2020, the overall estimated effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine for preventing medically attended, laboratory-confirmed influenza virus
Why flu season is in the fall and winter"The virus survives better in cool, dry temperatures," Simanek said. And that's thanks to a protective gel-like coating that surrounds the flu virus while it's in the air. The flu is an airborne infectious disease.
FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) chooses the flu vaccine viruses for the United States. For 2019-2020 vaccines, they selected the H1N1 and B components on March 6, 2019. Selection of the H3N2 component was delayed until March 22, 2019.
What are signs of canine influenza in dogs? The signs of this illness in dogs are cough, runny nose, fever, lethargy, eye discharge, and reduced appetite, but not all dogs will show signs of illness.
Will vaccination make my dog sick? Some dogs develop mild lethargy or soreness 1 to 2 days after vaccination.
Vaccination can reduce the risk of a dog contracting canine influenza. Vaccination may not all together prevent an infection, but it may reduce the severity and duration of clinical illness. The canine influenza vaccine is a "lifestyle" vaccine, and is not recommended for every dog.
Dog Flu Knows No BoundariesThis highly contagious disease began as an isolated episode of respiratory disease in one state, and has now become a nationwide health concern for all dogs. Dogs have no natural immunity to Dog Flu because it is a newer virus.