Keeping your family healthy so that no one misses day care, school or work is important. And one way to do that is to make sure all members of your family get a flu shot.

Experts recommend that most people aged 6 months and older get a flu shot every year. The vaccine helps protect you and your family in many ways. It:

<ul>
 <li>Lowers your risk of getting the flu.
 </li>
 <li>Reduces your risk of getting seriously sick and of being hospitalized because of the flu.
 </li>
 <li>Lowers your chances of dying from the flu.
 </li>
 <li>Helps prevent you from spreading the flu to others. That includes babies too young to get a flu shot.</li>
 <li>May help you feel less sick if you do get the flu.
 </li>
</ul>
When should your family get a flu vaccine?

It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to be fully effective. So it's best to get a shot before flu season starts. That is often in October.

But you may want to get your kids vaccinated as soon as the flu shot is available. Some kids need two flu shots. Ask your doctor if your children need more than one shot.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

A shot for good health