Your best bet for avoiding influenza? Get a flu shot  

Remember how bad the 2017-2018 flu season was – one of the worst on record.  Unfortunately, medical experts believe the 2018-2019 flu season will be even worse. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), on average, up to 20 percent of the U.S. population contracts the flu each year and tens of thousands of people are hospitalized. Even though it may still feel like summer, the new flu season is approaching fast. Already pharmacies, medical clinics, schools, and offices are reminding all of us to be vaccinated against influenza.

Flu season runs from fall and winter but usually peaks sometime after December through February but the season can run late and into spring, sometimes as late as May, according to the CDC. But, flu activity can already begin as early as October which is why the CDC highly recommends that anyone who is eligible to be vaccinated, should plan to do so at least two weeks before the season starts. It takes about two weeks for the body to form antibodies to fight the flu after the vaccine is administered.

Everyone who is able to get a flu shot should do so.  Don’t think that influenza is simply a minor 2-week inconvenience.  There are more hospitalizations and deaths in children, and those with compromised immune systems compared to any other vaccine-preventable disease in North America.  By getting your flu shot, you can reduce your chance of contracting this disease by up to 90 percent. 

If you are thinking of forgoing a flu shot this year and need some convincing reasons why you should reconsider, here are ten of them:

1.  It can save your life

 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flu kills about 36,000 people a year in the U.S. Most deaths are caused by complications from the flu.  The complications which almost always require hospitalization include dehydration, worsening of chronic illnesses, bacterial pneumonia, and ear or sinus infections. 

 2.  You’ll have fewer sick days

 Missing work is always stressful along with your finances taking a hit.  Having to take time off to recuperate at home or in the hospital, costs both you and your employer.  If you have children at home and they get the flu, you will need to take time off from work to care for them. The flu accounts for 111 million lost workdays and approximately $7 billion in lost productivity.  Getting a simple shot is well worth it in protecting your financial well-being.

3.  All of us are eligible for a flu shot

Thanks to the CDC, it is very easy to get a flu shot for anyone over six months of age.  Many Americans can get a flu shot free of charge which can be done at many flu shot clinics or through your physician’s office making it convenient for protecting yourself against the flu.

4.  Needle-free alternatives are available

Don’t like needles?  No problem.  Needleless versions are available for those who don’t like to get poked.  There is a nasal spray which can be given to people between the ages of 2 and 49 who are healthy, not pregnant, and don’t have asthma.  There is also an intradermal shot with a very small needle which literally cannot be felt for people ages 18 to 64.

5.  People over 65 get a special version

As we age our immune systems have a harder time fighting off illness making anyone over the age of 65 especially prone to the flu.  For people in this age category, there is a custom version of a flu shot giving the elderly better protection against the flu.  To further protect an elderly loved one from the flu and from being hospitalized for it, the entire family (adult children, grandchildren, etc.) who may be spending time around them, also need to be immunized against the flu.

6.  You cannot get the flu from getting a flu shot

There is a common misconception that you can contract the flu from a flu vaccine, but this is no true.  The injected flu vaccine is made from a killed virus and the nasal flu vaccine is made from a weakened live virus.  Neither of these vaccines can give a healthy person the flu as it is not scientifically possible.   Within the first day or two after the vaccine is administered, some people may experience side effects of soreness, redness or pain at the injection site, low-grade fever, or body aches.  But comparing this to getting the flu, getting the flu shot and having a few minor side effects is worth it.

7.  The flu shot is tailored made each year

Every flu season, the CDC determines which strains of influenza appear to most likely occur that year. This helps increase the likelihood of protecting the majority of people and reducing a major flu outbreak.

8.  Flu shots protect people with weakened immunity

There will always be those who are not able to get a flu shot such as people with a compromised immune system, children younger than 6 months of age or people with severe, life-threatening allergies to flu vaccine or any ingredient in the vaccine such as gelatin, antibiotics or eggs.   To protect those individuals who are unable to get the flu vaccine, the rest of us need to do our part by getting the flu shot to reduce the incidence of influenza spreading to a large number of people putting those with weakened immunity at risk.

9.  Immunize yourself early in the flu season

The longer you wait to get your flu shot the greater chance of getting the flu.  Flu season begins in October and can stretch all the way into the month of May.  Since it takes approximately 2 weeks after getting the shot to build up the necessary antibodies to fight off flu germs, the earlier you get it, the better. 

10.  The more of us who get immunized for the flu, the better for society

The concept called “herd immunity” refers to populations getting immunizations.  If we all get immunized against the flu, then it will be extremely hard to spread the virus to anyone else since we would be all protected.  The flu virus spreads easily.  You can get it when an infected person coughs, talks or sneezes and the droplets get in your nose or mouth.  If you touch something that has the flu virus on it and then you touch your eyes, nose or mouth, you can get infected.  Bottom line, by getting your flu shot it not only protects yourself, but you are also doing your part in defending society keeping all of us safe from the flu.