I'm getting a little tired of hearing this: "I got the flu
once after getting the shot, I'll never get it again." No, you didn't.
WARNING: RANT AHEAD
Also, at what point did your
primary care provider become "government" or in the pocket of Big
Pharma? The recommendation to get your flu shot if you are able is not some
government conspiracy or ploy for pharmaceutical companies to make oodles of
money. Guess what? Your doctor doesn't work for the government and
pharmaceutical companies make more money on erectile dysfunction and high blood
pressure medications than they ever will on a once-a-year vaccine. You may
think it's not a big deal if you don't get your flu shot because you're reasonably
healthy and it's okay if you get sick for a week. That may very well be true.
But consider your grandparents, parents of a certain age, and babies and other
young ones. Consider your friend or family member or acquaintance or stranger
on the bus that may be immunocompromised due to cancer treatments. Cancer is
BAD ENOUGH without having to worry about catching influenza from someone that
just doesn't "believe in vaccination," like getting vaccinated is on
the same level as believing in leprechauns. Consider what it means to miss an
entire week of work. I came down with influenza last year, two weeks before my
work had its flu shot event. It was awful. Body aches so intense that the
weight of my own body was almost too much to bear. Fever spikes up to 103
degrees. I never want to go through that again. You shouldn't be so flippant
about it.
END RANT
Here are some flu facts:
Fact: Influenza kills. Over a period of 30
years between 1976 and 2006, estimates of flu-associated deaths in the United
States range from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people per season. During
a regular flu season, around 90 percent of deaths occur in people 65 years and
older. Children die too; 107 children under age 18 died from influenza during
the 2016-17 season. These deaths very well could have been prevented by
vaccination. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) showed that between 2010 and 2014, of 291 deaths in children 6
months to 17 years, only 26% had been vaccinated against flu before getting
sick. We can do better for our kids. We can do better for our parents and
grandparents.
Fact: You cannot get the flu from the flu
shot. Flu shots are made either from a dead virus or
with no virus at all, depending on which shot you
get; it's biologically impossible for the flu shot to give you influenza.
Fact: The shot itself and what your body does
to make the antibodies that protect you can cause body aches and possibly a
low-grade fever. Don't be a wuss, that's not influenza.
Fact: It can take up to 2 weeks after getting
the shot for your body to do what it needs to protect you. So, you could potentially
have come in contact with influenza before you got the shot, or sometime in
that 2-week window, and still get sick.
Fact: The flu mist (nasal spray) is made with
live virus, but one that's had its nastiness factors taken away. You may have
more localized side effects like runny nose, cough, or sore throat, but the flu
mist cannot give you full-blown influenza. Not possible.
Sub-fact:
The flu mist is NOT available this year and I don't know when
or if it will be back.
Fact: The "stomach flu" is not
influenza. It's most likely a nasty little bugger called norovirus. I'll talk
about that fresh hell another day. Stop calling it the flu.
Here's the thing. I'm not going
to lie to you; the flu shot isn't perfect, it won't protect everyone and for
some it won't work at all. But it is the best we have and we have to do the
best we can with what we have! The recommendation is everyone age 6 months and
older that is able should get their flu shot. It's the right thing to do for
the herd! Plus, this year's flu season could potentially be a real doozy. We
can often look to the southern hemisphere for a clue of how things will go for
us. Australia is just entering their spring season and the flu season is
winding down. And it was bad. Here's a news article from the country outlining the
severity.
To re-cap: Your primary care
provider does actually look out for your best interests. The flu shot won't
give you the flu. It will help to protect you and the people around you. Most
people age 6 months and older can get the flu shot. Talk to your health care
provider to make sure you are able. Do your part and get vaccinated!! Don’t
be lame.
