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The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses, and it infects the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs, leading to a range of symptoms. Since flu viruses are constantly changing, a new vaccine is developed each year to protect against the strains that research suggests will be most common. Understanding how this vaccine works can help you be more prepared. This is how the flu vaccine works:
Introduces Inactive Virus
Flu vaccines introduce an inactive version of the virus into your body. Preparers select virus strains that they predict will be prevalent during the upcoming flu season. Then they inactivate the viruses, which means they are no longer infectious. Because the viruses are not alive, they cannot cause the flu. The vaccine simply provides a blueprint for your immune system to study.
Triggers Immune Response
After you receive the vaccine, your immune system begins to react. It recognizes the inactive virus as a foreign invader, so your body starts its natural defense process. This response is how your body learns to fight the actual virus, and it accomplishes this without you getting sick. As this process involves several types of immune cells, each one has a specific job:
- Identifying the foreign material
- Signaling other cells for help
- Beginning the process of creating defenses
Your immune system’s reaction to the vaccine is a normal and expected function. White blood cells are activated, and they begin to analyze the components of the inactivated virus. This initial encounter is a key step in building your immunity for the flu season ahead.
Mimics an Infection
The vaccine prompts your body to respond as if it were fighting a real infection. While you will not get the flu from the vaccine, your body’s defensive actions are the same. This simulated infection is what helps you build protection, and your immune system works to clear the inactive virus, just as it would a live one.
This process is a practical way to prepare your body. The immune system learns to recognize the specific strains included in the vaccine, and it remembers them for the future. By being prepared, vaccines make your body ready to mount a quick and effective defense if it encounters the live virus later.
The process is a safe and controlled training exercise for your immune system. This is why getting vaccinated annually is necessary, as viruses evolve rapidly. It requires updated vaccines to make sure your immune system is prepared to combat the most current strains effectively.
Causes Antibodies to Develop
Following vaccination, your body produces antibodies. These antibodies specifically target the flu viruses that were in the vaccine. It typically takes about two weeks for your body to develop a full supply of antibodies after you get vaccinated. These antibodies protect in two key ways:
- They attach to flu viruses that enter your body.
- They prevent these viruses from infecting your cells.
Get a Flu Vaccine Today
Getting a flu vaccine helps prepare your immune system for the upcoming flu season. The vaccine works by showing your body what the flu virus looks like, which allows it to create antibodies. As a result, these antibodies help to defend against a future infection. Schedule an appointment to get your annual flu vaccine and give your body the tools it needs to recognize and fight the virus.
