Daily Health News Blog

A flu shot protects you from coming down with influenza. While it may not always provide total protection, it's certainly worth getting. Influenza is a respiratory infection that can cause serious complications, and flu immunizations are the most effective way to prevent it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months of age or older be vaccinated annually. The influenza viruses selected for inclusion in the seasonal flu vaccine are updated each year based on information about which viruses are being found, how they are spreading, and how well the previous season's vaccine might protect against new viruses discovered in the current year. National influenza centers in over 100 countries conduct year-round surveillance for influenza viruses and disease activity. These laboratories send found viruses for additional analyses to the five World Health  Organization Collaborating Centers, which are located in the followi...