By: Carley Hutchison
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) — Get ahead of flu season and start protecting yourself from the flu this year with a flu shot from Pat Walker Health Center.
According to the CDC, flu viruses are constantly changing, and the vaccine composition is reviewed and modified each year to make it more effective.
This year’s flu vaccine is designed to protect against three different updated strains of the virus, such as influenza A (H3N2), influenza A (H1N1), and influenza B (Victoria lineage).
The vaccine specifically includes stronger protection from the H3N2 strain that disseminated widely last year.
Even though the accuracy of predicting which strains will be the most prevalent that year varies, the vaccine still helps reduce the chances of contracting the flu.
The CDC is reporting that this year, there are fewer reports of the flu nationally and recommends that everyone older than the age of 6 months still get an annual flu vaccine.
They have stated that you should not get the vaccine if you are younger than 6 months, if you have had a previous severe reaction to the vaccine, or if you have a severe egg allergy.
The most common symptoms of the flu are fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and fatigue.
College campuses are an ideal place for the flu to spread, as the flu spreads the fastest in public places like classrooms, dorms, and shared living spaces.
“Last year, I got the flu, and I was sick and out of school for a whole week. I have never felt so sick,” Addy Parks, a senior at the University of Arkansas, said.
In a university outbreak study from PubMed, it was found that students living in residence halls with roommates have substantially higher odds of contracting the flu than students in single living apartments.
“After that, I took being healthy very seriously and avoided germs around campus as best as I could,” Parks said.
To schedule your appointment with the Allergy Immunization and Travel Clinic at Pat Walker, call 479-575-4451.
You can also visit the online patient portal to make an appointment if you are a returning Pat Walker patient.