New flu vaccine tackles four different strains

Flu season is upon us. Do you have your shot yet?

This year’s flu shot contains four different strains of the flu. For those who prefer the nasal spray, you’re out of luck. It will not be offered this year.

“What they found is when they added that fourth strain in the vaccine, it wasn’t as effective as the injection,” Nikki Sayer, Nurse Manager for the Eastern Idaho Public Health District, said.

Many people won’t get the shot because they believe it will give them the flu; however, this is not the case.

“The flu shot is made out of an inactivated virus and so you cannot get the flu from the flu shot,” Sayer said.

The flu is also not what most people believe.

“A lot of people thing maybe the flu is more of an illness of GI symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,” Sayer said. “Real influenza is a respiratory illness. While you might exhibit some of those symptoms, it’s your lungs that we’re worried about.”

Doctors recommend that infants older than six months, those around children, pregnant women and people over 65 get the shot. They also say everyone should get it every year.

While some have said this flu season is going to be worse than last year, doctors and nurses say it’s impossible to tell.