the flu is highly infectious and is a serious viral respiratory infection. whereas with other viral respiratory infections the symptoms usually are mild and most people can continue working or going to school while ill with the flu the symptoms are severe and prolonged and cause individuals to miss days of work or school. the infection stresses the body. in addition superinfections may occur. superinfections are bacterial infections that occur on top of a respiratory infection. bacterial respiratory infections also are a serious type of infection and the simultaneous viral and bacterial infection can overwhelm the function of the lungs and the body. among the elderly and the very young it can cause death. because of its infectiousness morbidity (severity of symptoms and time lost from work or school) and the potential for death it is important to prevent the flu by vaccination. although there are medications to treat the flu they are expensive not as effective as vaccination and need to be started within 24-48 hours of the start of symptoms.
why vaccinate for the flu?