The Importance of Flu Vaccinations
Cold vs Flu
| Signs and Symptoms |
Cold |
Flu |
| Symptom onset |
Gradual |
Abrupt |
| Fever |
Rare |
Common |
| Aches |
Slight |
Fairly common |
| Fatigue, weakness |
Sometimes |
Usual |
| Sneezing |
Common |
Sometimes |
| Chest discomfort, cough |
Mild to moderate; hacking cough |
Common; can be severe |
| Stuffy nose |
Common |
Sometimes |
| Sore throat |
Common |
Sometimes |
| Headache |
Rare |
Common |
What is the Flu?
Influenza, or the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus. It can lead to mild or severe illness and, at times, can result in hospitalization or death. “The flu is different from a cold,” explains family medicine physician Michael Tarkey MD. He says, “The flu typically comes on suddenly and is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and fatigue.”
How to Prevent the Flu
The flu vaccine is the first and most important step to prevent seasonal flu infection and its complications (CDC, 2024). The flu viruses change every year, so an annual vaccination is required to keep immunity levels high. Prevent the flu with the following tactics:
- Get an annual flu vaccination
- Everyday actions (frequent handwashing, disinfect surfaces, avoid touching face, stay away from sick people, and stay home when sick)
- Boost natural immunity (eat nutritious food, get enough sleep, stay hydrated, and manage stress)
Individual and Community Protection
The flu is not just a personal health risk; it is a community threat. When vaccination rates are low, outbreaks become more likely, leading to higher rates of illness, hospitalization, and death. Annual vaccination is important to maintain herd immunity, which means there are enough immune people in the community to prevent the spread of the illness.
Effectiveness of Flu Vaccines
Vaccine effectiveness varies from year to year, depending on the match between the circulating viruses and the vaccine strains. On average, flu vaccines reduce the risk of illness by 40–60% among the overall population during seasons when the vaccine is well matched (CDC, 2024). Even when the vaccine does not prevent infection entirely, it often reduces the severity of illness and the risk of complications.
Who Should Get Vaccinated?
The CDC recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older, with rare exceptions. Special emphasis is placed on:
- Young children
- Adults over 65
- Pregnant women
- People with chronic health conditions (e.g., asthma, diabetes, heart disease)
- Healthcare workers and caregivers
Flu vaccines reduce missed school and workdays, save lives, and reduce hospitalizations. Contact your primary care provider or visit a PIH Health pharmacy for your annual vaccination.
Michael Tarkey MD
Michael Tarkey MD is a family medicine doctor with a subspecialty in chronic disease management and addiction medicine. Dr. Tarkey chose to go into medicine because he had a passion for teaching, biology, and community work. Medicine was an excellent way for him to combine all of his passions into a meaningful career. Family medicine requires a broad knowledge base as the foundation for providing healthcare to the whole community. Dr. Tarkey believes that when he sees a patient in the context of their community and family, he can more fully address their needs. Dr. Tarkey completed a two-year fellowship in academic medicine to learn how to be a better educator and researcher within medicine and he also completed his Masters degree in healthcare administration. He enjoys getting to know his patients and their families over time, as well as seeing patients grow their knowledge and confidence about their health. Coming from an academic background, he values being up to date in his field and the latest research. Having bilingual language skills allows him to bring different cultural perspective to his practice. Dr. Tarkey grew up in the Midwest and moved to Southern California in 2023. He loves the outdoors and is an avid rock climber and backpacker.
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