Flu outbreaks are expected to begin this October and end in late May, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). As the cold season begins, protecting against this common but potentially serious disease is critical since the flu virus is infectious and spreads fast. Individuals are subjected to at least two or three incidents of colds every year and getting the flu vaccine is still the best way to protect against the virus, according to USA Today.
"Even if you end up getting the flu, the vaccine helps protect you by regulating your immune system so you don't suffer from a more severe case of the flu, or even worse, from death," said Richard Kanowitz via the news outlet. Kanowitz formed the group Families Fighting Flu and became a staunch advocate of vaccination after his daughter died from flu 11 years ago.
The CDC said that it's not possible to predict how bad the virus will spread, as conditions vary every year and some virus have also mutated. But their recommendation is that vaccinations should be given to individuals as young as 6 months old as soon as possible this October. However, should a person fail to get vaccinated this month, it's still recommended to have the injection as long as the virus is still circulating.
For the 2015-2016 flu season, influenza vaccines that were developed are for protection against the following types of flu virus, as indicated on the CDC guide:
- A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
- A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 (H3N2)-like virus
- B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus
Some vaccines are also for protection against the B virus or B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.
"The 2015-2016 #flu vaccine includes updated H3N2 and influenza B virus components," according to a tweet by Tom Friedman, the CDC director.
The 2015-2016 #flu vaccine includes updated H3N2 and influenza B virus components. More in @CDCMMWR: https://t.co/zyDw1IK5J5
— Dr. Tom Frieden (@DrFriedenCDC) August 7, 2015
Other than vaccination, individuals should also make sure to boost their immune system by keeping a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Eating yogurt for breakfast can help the body fight off colds, as it has probiotics that boost the immune system, according to a study published in the Korean Journal of Family Medicine.
Getting ample sleep also prevents infection from colds, and those with less than six hours of sleep are likely to develop the illness, according to a study done by the experts at the University of California San Francisco.
Lastly, drinking at least 2 liters of water a day or taking chicken soup can thin out germ-filled mucus so that it doesn't last inside the body's system, according to the National Institutes of Health.
