The Doctor’s Note: Get your flu shot this year

Influenza, also known as the flu, is a viral infection most seen during winter months. Typical flu symptoms are fever, chills, cough, body aches and fatigue that begin abruptly. My patients would often say “I feel like I was hit by a truck” or “I ache so bad even my hair hurts,” sentiments commonly felt by those suffering from flu. While the flu, like many … Continue reading The Doctor’s Note: Get your flu shot this year

Can an universal influenza vaccine exist?

The Doctor’s Note: Can a universal flu vaccine end annual vaccination?

You’ve probably heard about this season’s flu outbreak, because it is more severe than in year’s past. In this week’s blog, Dr. Callahan, who recently joined the BCBSKS staff, shares more details about the flu vaccination and if a universal vaccine could replace annual flu shots. Continue reading “The Doctor’s Note: Can a universal flu vaccine end annual vaccination?”

The Doctor’s Note: Should I get a flu shot?

Winter is approaching, so it is time to decide whether or not to get a flu shot. The flu shot is the single best way to prevent the flu, but less than half of all Americans get one. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that almost everyone over 6 months of age get a flu shot this year. Let’s take a look at some facts that support how the flu shot can be beneficial. Continue reading “The Doctor’s Note: Should I get a flu shot?”