Time for your flu shot: Mayo Clinic Radio

Health & Wellness

Time for your flu shot: Mayo Clinic Radio

By
Joel Streed

November 3, 2019

Fall is here, and as the weather cools off, flu season heats up. After a particularly bad flu season in Australia, officials warn that could foretell what’s ahead for the U.S.

Influenza is a respiratory infection that can cause serious complications, particularly in young children, older adults and people with certain medical conditions. Getting a flu shot — though not 100% effective — is the best way to prevent the misery of the flu and its complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months or older be vaccinated annually against the flu.

During this Mayo Clinic Radio podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, director of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, will talk about the upcoming flu season, the importance of good hand-washing techniques, and the potential for a universal flu vaccine. Also on the program, Dr. Matthew Robertson III, chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mayo Clinic in Florida, will explain hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, which uses heated chemotherapy during surgery to treat ovarian cancer. And Dr. Christopher Boes, chair of Mayo Clinic's Division of Neurology Education at Mayo Clinic, and Dr. Bruce Pollock, a Mayo Clinic neurologic surgeon, will discuss diagnosing and treating the chronic pain condition known as trigeminal neuralgia.

Here's your Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.