| How
are vaccinations manufactured? Each
year, vaccine producers develop new formulations devised to
fight off the various strains forecasted for the year. The new
versions are created based on the estimations of which strains
will be the most rampant for the upcoming influenza season.
??When
is it best to get a vaccination?
The optimal time of year to get vaccinated is each fall, prior
to the beginning of the flu season.
??What
if I miss the vaccination in the fall, should I forgo a vaccination
for the rest of the year?
On
the contrary, obtaining a vaccination even after the later flu
season is underway still offers some protection.
??Is
it a good idea to use antibiotics to prevent contracting the
flu?
No.
Antibiotics are only effective against infections triggered
by bacteria. Antibiotic do not work the flu or any illnesses
that are caused by viruses. Not to mention, when antibiotics
are taken unnecessarily, it may contribute to the body building
a drug-resistance of the bacteria. Moreover, other unwanted
adverse effects may be experienced that are associated with
the medications (diarrhea, yeast infection or a rash)
??If
I have a cold, should I ask my doctor to write a prescription
for an antibiotic?
No,
at present date there are not any licensed antibiotics developed
to cure the common cold. However, various prescription antibiotics
referred to as antiviral medications — are both efficacious
and available against influenza (the flu), only.
??Are
bouts of diarrhea, nausea, and regurgitation the symptoms of
the flu?
Even
though certain individuals may experience stomach discomfort,
the symptoms are not the primary adverse effects of the flu.
It is more likely to be stomach flu or gastroenteritis. Alternatively,
gastroenteritis is really not the same as influenza; it is malady
of the intestines (gastrointestinal tract) and stomach. With
the flu (influenza) the throat nose and lungs are affected. |
