Why Travelers Need a Flu Shot Every Year

While the risk for exposure to influenza varies by region and time of year, everyone – but especially travelers – should be inoculated against the flu.

Even mild flu brings multiple symptoms including fever, cough, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and pains, a runny nose, and sore throat.

Since the influenza virus changes year by year means that the previous year’s vaccination is likely to no longer provide protection. Indeed, while the vaccine’s overall efficacy is far less than ideal, it nonetheless reduces the severity of the disease and prevents thousands of unnecessary hospital visits, more serious cases of the flu, and undoubtedly numerous deaths. It is of particular importance for those at risk for flu-related complications, such as children younger than five, adults over the age of 65, and pregnant women, as well as those with chronic illnesses.

For those planning a trip, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting vaccinated two weeks prior to departure in order to allow immunity to develop.

If you do find yourself with the flu, whatever you do, do not travel. Doctors recommend you stay home until at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever without taking fever-reducing medicine such as aspirin or Tylenol.

Finally, if you are still of the opinion that this is all hype, keep in mind that the biggest pandemic in history was the Spanish flu of 1918, which infected one-third of the world’s population and killed over 50 million people.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)