The best way to protect against the flu in Raleigh is to get vaccinated every year. It takes about 2 weeks for the antibodies to build up in your immunity. The antibodies you build are what will protect you from the flu virus.
Get a Flu Vaccine in Raleigh
Here at Wake Internal Medicine Consultants, we have the flu vaccine available to our patients in September. We know that there are a lot of patients who prefer to get it this early. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommends being vaccinated by the end of October so you will be protected from the fall season through early spring.
Everyone from the age of 6 months old and over should be vaccinated including pregnant women, diabetics and people with chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD and Asthma.
The CDC does not promote one flu vaccine over another. It is always recommended that you talk to your physician about the best possible options for you. Here at Wake Internal Medicine, we provide the standard trivalent dose which is an injection that covers 3 different flu viruses.
You should NOT have the flu vaccination if:
- You have a mild to moderate illness with or without fever. It is best to wait until you are feeling better or do not have a fever.
- People with a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome that occurred after flu vaccination
- Special consideration is taken with people who have an allergy to eggs:
- If your reaction is hives only you may receive the vaccination with additional precautions so make sure you speak with your doctor.
- People who have had serious allergic reactions to eggs may be advised to not have the vaccine but again, talk to your doctor.
For more information you can visit the website for the CDC by clicking the links below:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/general/flu-vaccine-benefits.pdf
