BROWN: It's time to prepare for flu season

It's that time of the year again, time to prepare for the flu season so we are healthy as a community. Influenza vaccinations help protect the community from the flu. There's always the age-old question, should I get a flu shot? Well, I have a flu shot every year and stay pretty healthy throughout the flu season.

I have heard people say I am not getting a flu shot, because I end up getting the flu. Registered nurse Christina Sikes, with a Bachelor of Science in nursing, who is a county nurse manager for the Houston County Health Department, says that is a myth.

So what about getting the flu? Well, here are the facts, plain and simple: a person cannot catch the flu by having the flu shot. Usually it's a coincidence that the person started getting sick after receiving the flu shot. Typically, a person has already been exposed or started to come down with some sort of illness before or around the same time the shot was given. Sikes said coincidentally the symptoms did not start showing until the vaccination was received.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates the flu shot can cause mild side effects that are sometimes mistaken for flu. For example, people sometimes experience a sore arm where the shot was given. If a person experiences a fever, muscle pain and feelings of discomfort or weakness, it may only last a couple of days and these symptoms are much less severe than the actual flu.

Another myth is that a person can never get the flu. Well, a person can still get the flu. However, the flu is less likely to cause severe or fatal complications. There are less extreme flu symptoms with the vaccination. The flu vaccination reduces the risk of complications that could lead to death.

Sikes said there are two ways to receive the flu vaccination, the injectable vaccination or flu mist vaccination. Sikes went on to say the injectable vaccination has the dead virus. She explained there is no possible way to get the flu from this form of immunization. There is also the flu mist, which has a tiny amount of the live virus. Sikes said the live virus in the flu mist is so reduced that there is hardly any virus in the mist. I have had the flu mist before and had no problems at all. Sikes said anyone from age 2- to 50-years-old can receive the mist. She explained that people with a bone marrow transplant, are undergoing chemotherapy or if their immune system is really low should not receive the flu mist. The doctor may also place more restrictions on such a person when it comes to getting the vaccine.

According to the CDC, the flu shot is routinely injected in the arm and is meant to protect against several stains of the flu. Anyone 6 months old or older should get the flu vaccine unless the doctor says otherwise.

The effectiveness of the vaccine depends on the strain of flu the person receives in the vaccine. The CDC indicates the risk of the flu vaccine causing serious harm is very small. A flu vaccine rarely causes serious problems, such as a severe allergic reaction. Most people who get the vaccine have no serious side effects.

Some of the side effects that can occur from the vaccine are soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given, a low grade fever and aches. There also can be itching at the site of the injection. If an allergic reaction occurs, seek immediate medical help.

An allergic reaction can consist of breathing problems, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, fast heartbeat or dizziness. If an allergic reaction occurs, it will be within a few minutes to hours after the vaccination. Sikes said if a person has an allergic reaction to the flu vaccine, they should contact their doctor for guidance regarding future flu vaccines.

Also, if a person has a severe allergy to eggs or has had a recent asthma attack, they should not have the flu vaccine to prevent the chance of a reaction or increased wheezing. Sikes said if someone has had a previous reaction to a flu vaccination, they should discuss it with their doctor before getting one.

The vaccination is available at most medical providers, pharmacies -- such as CVS, Target, Walgreens, Minute Clinics -- and your local health department. Most insurance policies cover flu vaccinations.

Sikes said flu shots are so important because it helps to prevent the spread of the flu to others. "If we can get more people vaccinated, our community will be healthier. It will also help (keep) people, young and old, from getting the flu. A highly vaccinated community will help reduce the risks of serious complications in the community from the flu."

Sikes said for more information about the flu and how to get a flu shot, you may contact the Houston County Health Department at 478-218-2000 or the local health department near you.

I've had my flu shot. What about you?

Dairlyn Brown is a nurse in Warner Robins.

This story was originally published October 20, 2015 at 3:19 PM with the headline "BROWN: It's time to prepare for flu season ."