Does getting a flu shot do anything for bird flu? (lemmy.world)

submitted 5 days ago by reddig33@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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I keep hearing I should get a flu shot to help prevent bird flu — but I thought flu shots only prevented illness from the particular strains the shot was designed for. Does getting a traditional flu shot do anything to prevent bird flu transmission?

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[-] InEnduringGrowStrong@sh.itjust.works 39 points 5 days ago

Seasonal flu shots won't protect you from bird flu.
I think seasonal flu shots also now contain strains of H1N1 (swine flu), but not this latest bird flu.

Getting it might still help your odds against bird flu, even if only by lowering your chances of ever catching both at the same time.
Simultaneous infection isn't gonna be fun.

You getting a seasonal flu shot might also help the population in more roundabout way.
If less people need care for seasonal flu complications, health services will be less overloaded and more available to eventual bird flu patients if a bird flu pandemic did break out.

this post was submitted on 27 Dec 2024

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