The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the most important step in protecting against influenza and its potentially serious complications. The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three or four influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. If you do get a flu shot, you can still possibly get the flu. Using the illustration and prompt, explain how this can happen. All BUT ONE choice could apply.
While getting a flu shot can significantly reduce your chances of getting the flu, it is not a 100% guarantee against becoming infected. There are several reasons why someone may still get the flu after receiving the vaccine:
1. Exposure to a different strain: The flu vaccine is designed to protect against the most common strains of the virus, but there are many different strains that can cause illness. If you are exposed to a strain of the virus that is not included in the vaccine, you may still get sick.
2. Immune response: It takes about two weeks for the flu vaccine to become fully effective in your system. During this time, you could still be exposed to the flu virus and become infected before the vaccine has had a chance to provide protection.
3. Vaccine effectiveness: The flu vaccine is not 100% effective, and its effectiveness can vary depending on factors such as your age, health status, and the specific strains of flu that are circulating. In some cases, the vaccine may not provide complete protection against the flu.
4. Timing of vaccination: The timing of when you receive the flu shot can also impact its effectiveness. If you receive the vaccine early in the season and are exposed to the flu virus later on, the protection from the vaccine may have waned by the time you are exposed.
Therefore, even though getting a flu shot is the best way to protect against the flu, it is still possible to get sick with the flu after receiving the vaccine.