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Edited on Thu Oct-21-04 05:03 PM by crunchyfrog
I will try to answer some of your questions.
The main thing about the flu virus(es) is that it mutates so quickly that you really can't build up any long term defence against it. There are a huge number of different strains, all mutating constantly. When they are not causing human epidemics, domestic animals and wild waterfowl serve as a reservoir for them, where different strains are able to exchange genes and create even more unique strains.
This is why, if you got the flu last year, you almost certainly won't be immune this year. It will probably be a different strain, and even if it wasn't, it likely would have mutated sufficiently to overide last years antibodies.
Getting a flu shot will help you build your defences by giving you antibodies to the strains that have been estimated to be most likely to cause epidemics during that particular season. Since this is only based on educated guesswork, there is alot of hit and miss, and that is why people can still get the flu even if they've had the shot. It means that particular strain didn't make it into that year's immunization. This year's flu shot won't do you any good if you take it next year. The defence that it offers is only temporary, and only meant to be temporary.
If you are young and healthy then you don't actually need a flu shot at all. If you get the flu it will make you sick, but it almost certainly won't kill you. Only older people, very young people, and people with certain health conditions are considered to be seriously at risk if they get the flu. That's why access is being limited right now while there's a shortage.
There are other things you can do to increase your resistance by enhancing your immune system. Generally try to take good care of yourself, take extra vitamin C, If you begin to feel symptoms, or think you may have been exposed, you can take echinacia and zinc and other supplements.
However, the flu virus operates in such a way that you will never develop an actual immunity to it. A flu shot once a year, when available, is your best bet.
I hope this answers some of your questions. If you have any more, just ask and I'll see what I can do.
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