Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1508232
Health Matters: Providence St. Mary Medical Center | 3 Protection Is Key As the seasons change, vaccinations are critical to staying healthy. I t's that time of year again: time to make plans for staying up to date with your vaccinations. Flu season in San Bernardino County runs from the beginning of October through the end of March. Remember: The earlier you get vaccinated, the more time your body has to create antibodies, which increase your protection. We spoke with Jeannine Zornes, RN, senior manager of infection prevention at Providence St. Mary, to get the facts on what you need to know about key vaccinations this fall. Flu shots are recommended for nearly everyone aged six months and older. Flu vaccines formulated especially for people over 65 are available, so ask your primary care provider or pharmacist which vaccine is right for you. New vaccines are created each year because the influenza virus mutates rapidly. As a result, last year 's flu vaccine may not work on this year 's virus. After receiving the vaccine, some people experience mild reactions that can last several days, such as soreness at the injection site, swelling or fever. It's important to note, too, that you cannot contract the flu from a flu shot, because the vaccine does not contain a "live" virus. When it comes to COVID-19 vaccinations, updated versions are available now. These protect against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. Two manufacturers, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, have developed updated COVID vaccines. It is recommended that everyone six and over get one of these updated COVID-19 vaccines. As we've learned, the shots are effective at protecting people from serious illness, hospitalization and death. As with other vaccine-preventable diseases, you are best protected from COVID-19 when you stay current with the recommended vaccinations.