It's Time for Flu Shots

Each year, specialists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention give their best guess on which strain of influenza will most likely affect residents of the United States during the winter months. Drug companies then prepare flu vaccines based on that recommendation. Duke University Medical Center physician assistant Justine Strand is a specialist in family medicine. She says even if you get the flu shot, you'll still need to take common precautions, such as frequent hand-washing.

"It doesn't protect you against every sort of cold and sniffle and doesn't guarantee that you won't get the flu, but it certainly reduces your chances."

Strand also says there is absolutely no way you can get the flu by having the flu shot.

"It is an inactivated vaccine, so it is not a live vaccine. It does not contain a live virus."

Strand says getting the influenza vaccine is especially important for children with asthma, and for the elderly.

"The flu can lead to complications such as pneumonia, and actually be life-threatening, particularly with seniors."

Strand says there is absolutely no reason not to get your flu shot. I'm Tom Britt.

Strand says children with asthma are especially susceptible to the side effects of influenza and should be the first in line for a flu shot.

"Most children with asthma have certain triggers that cause them to have asthma attacks. It could be something such as a dog, a cat, molds, something in the environment, but also many children have asthma triggers associated with upper-respiratory infection such as the flu."