Flu season approaches First of all, flu season is on the
horizon. While pharmacy chains seem to find it beneficial to
offer flu shots all year, flu season is universally recognized
to be from October through February. While it is certainly
possible to contract influenza — the flu — at any time during
the year, the evidence is compelling for being immunized in
early October. Anything significantly earlier than that risks
neglecting effective coverage through February. Influenza, like
colds, is caused by a family of viruses. Affectionately called a
“big mama virus,” influenza involves viral strains that are
generally more potent and thus potentially more lethal, both in
their ability to cause stronger, more debilitating symptoms and
in the possibility of leading to severe complications, such as
dehydration or pneumonia. Both a cold and the flu may start off
with general body aches and fatigue, chills, coughing, a sore
throat, a runny nose and a low-grade fever. From there, however,
cold symptoms tend to be more