Sponsor Content

Why You Definitely Want to Get This Year’s Flu Vaccine

Photo credit: Shutterstock/Production Perig

Photo credit: Shutterstock/Production Perig

Throughout the fall and winter, you’ll see a lot of reminders to get your flu shot, and with good reason. The flu vaccine is a safe way to protect both yourself and others (particularly those with compromised or susceptible immune systems) from this dangerous virus. But because the flu virus changes each year, creating an effective vaccine for each flu season can be tricky. Scientists have to make an “educated guess” regarding which strains of the flu virus will be circulating, and they develop a vaccine based on these hypotheses. Some years the vaccine matches the strain of that year’s flu virus, and some years it doesn’t. 

Great news for you; bad news for the flu

This year, federal health officials have tested the most common strains of the virus circulating and determined that the 2015-2016 flu vaccine protects against these strains. This is great news for the 16 – 64 million Americans who get the flu each year.* What’s more, most health plans cover preventive health services, like immunizations. So depending on the type of health coverage you have, the flu vaccine may available free of charge.

What are you waiting for? The Centers for Disease Control recommend an annual flu shot for everyone 6 months older, with rare exception. Need more reasons to get vaccinated? Here are three.

More good news on the horizon

Word has gotten out about the development of a universal flu vaccine. A universal vaccine would protect people against multiple strains of the virus. That said, it’s important to note that this vaccine is currently in clinical trials.

For more information on how Independence Blue Cross can be a part of your plan for health and wellness, click here.

*Seasonal Influenza Q&A

Sponsor content is created for IBX by Philadelphia magazine as a marketing collaboration with IBX. This material is intended for reference and information only and should not be used in place of advice from a doctor or suitable qualified healthcare professionals.