So here we are, well into the 2019-2020 flu season. Have you had your flu shot? If you haven't, do you know whether that was the safest choice for you and those you care about?

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In a new podcast from the Bow Tie Bandit and Mayo Clinic Laboratories, learn  important facts about influenza, such as why should we get vaccinated every year, when it's time to go see your doctor, and common misconceptions regarding the flu shot.

Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., a clinical microbiologist, and Priya Sampathkumar, M.D., an infectious disease specialist, both from Mayo Clinic, sit down with Justin Kreuter, M.D., (aka the Bowtie Bandit), to explain influenza and how it differs from other respiratory infections. And if you listen closely, you might hear a prediction of a future without a flu shot.

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The Flu: Nothing to Sneeze About! is the most recent in a series of podcasts hosted by Dr. Kreuter, discussing various topics related to lab medicine.

Mayo Clinic Laboratories is a global reference laboratory that helps health care providers worldwide advance patient care, strengthen their practices, and broaden access to specialized testing.

Through partnerships with clinicians at Mayo Clinic and health care providers around the world, Mayo Clinic Laboratories is able to offer the most sophisticated test catalog in the world. It is because of these daily collaborations that the Labs' subspecialized laboratories continue to be a critical component to patient care at Mayo Clinic.

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Related Resources:

• CDC Flu information
• Mayo Clinic patient information
• Influenza-related clinical trials
• Mayo Clinic Laboratories

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Tags: immunization, influenza, Justin Kreuter, Matthew Binnicker, Mayo Clinic Laboratories, News, Priya Sampathkumar, vaccines