Flu season is coming and around my town there are clinics setup everywhere for people to get vaccinated against the flu.
One of the stories that I hear every year is how the people that develop the flu vaccination did not correctly figure out what strain of flu will be coming this year and this year is no exception. News stories are all about sensationalizing the stories that they have and every year I hear this “should you both getting vaccinated” Well yes of course you should get vaccinated against the flu.
Another story to watch out for is the urban legend that the flu vaccine actually gives you a small dose of the flu and this will teach your body how to dight it. The idea being that your body should fight of this small flu and you will be protected. Well this just is not the case anymore. Actually the flu vaccine is just a synthetic, dead virus that will teach your body with no downside at all. No it will not give you the flu.
Finally one story that I heard this weekend from the public health nurse was that in the event of a flu pandemic, the bird flu that we have been talking about the last couple of years, the number one prevention will be hand washing. As we wash our hands we break the cycle of bacteria and washing your hands will be the best way to stop the chance of catching any viruses this winter.