A flu shot now can mean a healthier body for the winter

80,000 Americans died last season from flu or related complications

Last flu season was truly a vicious one. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 80,000 Americans died from the flu and its related complications last winter. According to the Associated Press, that’s the disease’s highest death toll in at least 40 years.

In recent years, flu-related deaths have ranged from about 12,000 to 56,000 annually, according to the CDC.

Given that, the statistic of 80,000 deaths is truly staggering.

Even on the healthiest of people, the flu can be painful. On the elderly, the young, and those with weakened immune systems, it can be devastating.

Most people experience fever, cough, aches and pains, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, and a runny or stuffy nose. But for some in high-risk groups, the flu can be deadly.

Vaccinations, however, can make a difference.

It takes about two weeks for someone to develop antibodies after getting the flu vaccination, which in turn provides protection against the flu itself. In effect, the flu vaccine needs to have some time in your system to become fully functional before flu season kicks into high gear.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also reports that people who get the flu vaccine are 60 percent less likely to need treatment for the flu by a doctor. The vaccine reduces illness, and that in turn means less lost time from work or school.

The big question on the table is a simple one – how bad is it going to be this year? It’s hard to know for certain, but so far, the flu that’s been detected is a milder strain, and early signs are that the vaccine is shaping up to be a good match, the AP reports. That is good news, especially after such a rough season last year.

But don’t delay, Yuma. Many places locally are already offering the flu shot. Go get yours, and help your body stay healthy this winter.