Should You Get the Flu Vaccine?

Sponsored by Turó Park Dental and Medical Center.

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Winter is coming, and the importance of staying healthy is greater than ever. Getting an influenza vaccine will help protect you and those around you from getting the flu, and help reduce the strain on health care systems responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We spoke with Dr. Asma Kemerchou, general practitioner at Turó Park Dental & Medical Center, about some of the questions surrounding the upcoming 2020-2021 flu season.

Why get vaccinated?

Because the flu has been around for such a long time, many people tend to trivialize it as a harmless disease; most who do get it manage to muddle through the misery without being hospitalized. However, it’s important to remember that influenza is a potentially deadly disease.

Every flu season is different, and infection affects people differently, but millions of people get the flu every year, hundreds of thousands of them have to be hospitalized, and thousands to tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes. According to the WHO, seasonal influenza kills up to 650,000 people every year worldwide.

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Getting your annual, seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect you and your family against the flu. It reduces your risk of contracting—and spreading—the flu. Even in cases in which it doesn’t prevent the flu, it can still reduce the risk of serious side effects; studies show that it can reduce your risk of hospitalization by up to 70%.

How effective is the flu vaccine?

It can vary; it depends in part on the age and health of the person getting the vaccine and the similarity or “match” between the viruses in the vaccine and those in circulation. That said, on average, the success rate varies between 40% and 60%. So, even though you cannot be 100% certain that you won’t catch the flu if you are vaccinated, getting the vaccine can help decrease the severity of your symptoms if you should fall ill.

Where can I get vaccinated?

At Turó Park Dental & Medical Center we offer you the flu vaccine as well as all of the obligatory vaccines in Spain for children and adults. Our English-speaking doctors will take care of the administration of the vaccine and offer you personalized care and follow-up.

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When should I get vaccinated?

The influenza viruses are around all year, but they spread more easily in the coldest months, peaking between December and February. So, it is recommended that you get vaccinated by the end of October.

How long does it take for the vaccination to work? 

It takes about two weeks for your body to develop antibodies to provide you with protection against the flu, which is why you should plan to get vaccinated before the flu season begins.

Who should get the flu vaccination?

Currently, both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States strongly urge everyone (six months and older) who has access to the flu vaccine to get vaccinated.

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In light of the current pandemic, it is of particular importance for people who are at an increased risk for flu-related complications to be vaccinated, including: people over 65 years of age, pregnant women, those with chronic illness (such as diabetes, asthma, cancer, etc.), front-line workers and people who are in contact with those vulnerable to developing serious flu complications.

How is the vaccination carried out?

At the clinic Dr. Asma Kemerchou will carry out a meticulous and complete review of your and your child's vaccination schedule, even if your child has lived their first years in a country other than Spain.

To book an appointment with one of our English speaking general practitioners or podiatrist you can call us at: +34 932 529 729

You can find out more about the clinic’s services and book an appointment via the website at turoparkmedical.com and follow on Twitter: @park_turo, Facebook: @turoparkmedical, Instagram @turoparkmedical and LinkedIn.

Sponsored by Turó Park Dental and Medical Center.