Question and Answer: Flu Shot

By Mountain-Pacific

Question: I got my flu shot, but I still got the flu. I don’t think I am going to bother next time.

Answer: Please continue to get the flu shot. There are a couple of important points to remember about flu shots. One reason you may have gotten the flu is because you were exposed to the flu before you got your flu shot. It takes up to two weeks from the time you got your shot for your body to produce the antibodies to fully protect you from getting sick. Another important point— if you do get the flu shot, and you do get the flu, the severity is going to be less. The flu shot only protects you from strains of influenza, not other viral illnesses that might mimic it.
For more information please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccineeffect.htm