Five Steps to Beating the Flu This Season
The best way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated as soon as possible
Por Pan-American Life
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They come on fast and strong: muscle aches, headaches, fever, and fatigue. The flu can knock you out for weeks, even if you are a healthy, young adult. In the case of children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems, the risks of developing complications, such as pneumonia, are much higher. The best way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
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Getting Vaccinated is Key
This year's flu vaccine is the same as last year's, but you still need to get a new one this season. If you get it now, it should protect you until April, when the virus subsides. The vaccine prevents the illness up to 80% of the time in adults under 60 years old and about half of the time in those 65 and older. If you do get sick, you usually contract a milder case.1. Consider the New "Quadrivalent" Shot
The standard shot, called the "trivalent," protects again three of the most common flu strains from last year: two influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) viruses, and one influenza B virus. The quadrivalent version, which is in use since 2013, protects against those viruses plus another influenza B virus. The B strains are the most active at the end of the flu season, in February and March.Foto: Getty Images