The main way to keep from getting flu is to get a yearly flu shots. You can get the flu shots at:
- Your doctor's office
- A local clinic
- Work (in many communities)
- Supermarkets
- Drugstores.
It is important to note that you must get flu shots every year because the injections change every year.
Scientists make different flu shots every year because the strains of flu viruses change from year to year. Nine to ten months before the flu season begins, scientists will prepare new flu shots made from inactivated (killed) flu viruses. Because the viruses are killed, they cannot cause infection. The flu shot preparation is based on the flu viruses that are in circulation at the time and on the viruses that are expected to circulate the following winter.
It is important to note that an unpredicted new strain of the flu virus may appear after flu shots have been made and distributed to doctors' offices and clinics. This means that even if you get the flu shot, you still may get infected. However, if you do get infected, the disease is usually milder because flu shots will still give you some protection.
(Click Flu Virus for more information about flu viruses.)
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