Flu Vaccine: What You Must Know for 2018

This flu season has been terrible. Why?

Every flu season is different. The 2017-2018 flu season started early. This year’s strains are being reported as very dangerous.

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Why is it so bad this year? This year’s vaccine doesn’t seem to be as protective as desirable. The virus has mutated since the vaccine’s components were selected. The strains included in the vaccine are selected six months before it becomes available.

If you have a young child or elderly family member, getting the vaccine yourself can protect them. Healthy family members should get the vaccine to save those with weakened immune systems from exposure.

The flu sets one up for bacterial infections. If you get sick, recover and get sick again, you may have a bacterial infection. Get yourself to the doctor.

Listen as Dr. Richard Webby joins Melanie Cole, MS, to explain how the flu vaccine works and the benefit of getting it now.

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Segment Number: 1
Audio File: lifes_too_short/ts59.mp3
Featured Speaker: Richard Webby, PhD
Guest Website: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Guest Bio: Richard Webby, PhD, is a member of the Infectious Diseases department at St. Jude. He began his career in New Zealand, where he earned his undergraduate and doctoral degrees. He joined St. Jude in 1999, and in 2008, he was named director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza Viruses in Lower Animals and Birds at St. Jude.

His research focuses on the understanding and reduction of the impact of influenza viruses that jump from animals to humans. He is also interested in the production of vaccine viruses, reagents, and technology that facilitates the rapid characterization of emerging viruses.

Dr. Webby is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Center of Excellence in Influenza Research and Surveillance, one of five such centers in the world. In 2010, he received a Special Recognition Award from NIAID for his work during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.
Length (mins): 15:01
Waiver Received: No
Host: Melanie Cole, MS

Published in Life's Too Short

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