The Importance of Flu Vaccinations

​Dr. Lamont Tyler, an authority on urgent and acute care, shares his medical expertise with the public on the radio show "Doc Talk.” On the weekly program, Dr. Lamont Tyler discusses a variety of topics, such as the flu vaccine and why getting it is a good health decision.

The flu, or influenza, is a common but serious health problem that people are most likely to contract during the months from October to May. People who are otherwise healthy can get very sick from the flu, and for those whose immune systems are compromised, the flu can be life-threatening. Each year, thousands of people die from the flu, and around 90 percent of flu-related deaths occur in people over 65 years of age. Therefore, getting vaccinated for the flu is very important, especially among older people.

When a person is vaccinated for the flu, they are exposed to an inactive form of the flu virus. This causes the individual to develop antibodies, which provide protection from the flu. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for the antibodies to fully develop. Therefore, it’s best to receive flu vaccine early in the flu season, rather than after an outbreak begins, for better protection.

---