Matthew Bogard MD publishes informational article on the Flu Shot and whether it is for you

CHARITON, Iowa - Dec. 20, 2018 - PRLog -- Some of you may have already gotten the flu vaccine, but for those who haven't it's not too late. In his newest article, Matthew Bogard, MD of Iowa provides an overview. As with all medical matters, information is just that - information. When in doubt, please review this with your medical doctor who understands your specific medical history.

For the most part, we underestimate the seriousness of the flu and place it next to the common cold. This is a common misconception, but just so you know, the Influenza virus is considerably more serious in nature. As per CDC estimates, it has caused between 140,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations and as many as 12,000 and 56,000 deaths annually in the U.S. since 2010. A yearly flu vaccine is the first step towards gaining protection against this disease and the CDC recommends it for everyone who is 6 months of age and older.

What can the flu do?

Initially, flu viruses will infect your nose, throat and lungs, but it can go on to cause a wide range of complications. While sinus and ear infections are moderate complications, Pneumonia is a serious flu complication that arises either due to the flu infection itself or if you're simultaneously infected by bacteria as well as the flu virus.

Other more serious complications include inflammation of the heart, brain or muscle. It can also cause multi-organ failure. An extreme inflammatory response can result in sepsis.

In the past 7 flu seasons, influenza vaccination prevented around 5.3 million illnesses and 85,000 hospitalizations and as per the CDC a mere 5% increase in the number of vaccinations could have further prevented as many as 483,000 influenza illnesses/. It would have stopped another two hundred thousand plus influenza-associated medical visits, and around seven thousand influenza-associated hospitalizations across the U.S.A.

How effective is the flu shot?

Since there are different strains of the influenza virus each year, the flu vaccine needs to be modified accordingly to target the particular strain that will circulate that year. However, there is no way of knowing which strain it might be. Thus, the effectiveness of the vaccine is somewhat compromised. Despite this, the CDC still heavily recommends that you get the flu vaccine as it offers at least some degree of protection even if it's not completely effective in preventing the disease. Also, since the influenza virus is transmittable, it is logical to assume that if a fewer number of people get sick, then the virus won't be able to penetrate as deeply and spread.

When should you avoid a flu shot?

While the CDC recommends that anyone older than 6 months get the flu shot, including pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions, there are exceptions. If you're severely allergic to the components in the flu shot then you should not get vaccinated. If you have ever had the Guillan-Barré Syndrome (An immune disorder), then consult your doctor before getting a flu shot.

The complete article will be published on the Blog of Dr. Bogard at https://matthewbogardmd.blogspot.com/

*** Dr. Matthew Bogard grew up near Omaha, Nebraska. During his time at Nebraska College of Medicine, he was selected to join the Advanced Rural Training Program, a four-year residency program that trains physicians to provide comprehensive full-spectrum medical care.
Blog: https://matthewbogardmd.blogspot.com/
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