Lola Shields
If You Knew About the Flu, You’d Get the Shot Too
“Achoooooo!” The student in the desk next to you has just sneezed. Little do you know that he/she has just released 100,000 infectious germs into the air at a speed up to 100 miles per hour. Now how on earth are you supposed to protect your body against something like that? U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say between 9.3 and 49 million flu cases occur in the U.S. alone each year. (Campbell) Anyone who has had the flu knows that it is a miserable experience, so why can’t health specialists find a way to put an end to this dreaded virus? It might come as a surprise to you, but an influenza vaccination has been created and, quite frankly, it’s saving lives.
Our world, as we know it today, is continuously growing. As of 2019, 7.7 billion people live on our small planet, crammed together in closely packed quarters with little to no elbow room. Because of this, germs spread easily. One very prominent virus is influenza, infecting millions of people throughout the world each year. The majority of those infected will experience standard symptoms, such as fever, body aches, and drainage, but the flu can very easily take a turn for the worse. For example, during the 2017-2018 flu epidemic, 80,000 people died, and 80-90% of the deceased had not received a flu shot that year. (Campbell) In actuality, less than half of the country, 46.8%, is vaccinated for the flu each year. Now if the flu kills, why wouldn’t you jump at a chance to protect yourself? The problem is, there are many misconceptions in society about receiving flu vaccinations.
Many people believe that they don’t need the shot, claiming, “I’ve never had the flu before, so I don’t need to start getting vaccinated now. Why risk it?” Well, family physician Dr. Gretchen LaSalle says, “Saying you have never had the flu so you don’t need the flu shot is, in my mind, like saying you’ve never been in a car accident so you don’t need a seatbelt.” The flu is unpredictable, so your health is more at risk by not receiving the shot than it would be if you were vaccinated. Another main misconception is that the flu shot actually gives you the flu. This is false. The flu shot exposes our immune systems to a DEAD influenza virus, allowing our bodies to develop a plan of attack for when/if we are exposed to the real virus. (Campbell) It’s really quite simple. If your body is prepared, then it can fight, but if your body is unprepared, fighting off the flu can very easily become a losing battle.
The vaccine may not be 100% effective when it comes to preventing the flu, but that’s no reason not to get it. If you think about it logically, what do you really have to lose? You can either not get the shot, risking the possibility of infection and, in extreme cases, death, or you can get vaccinated and decrease your chances of being infected in the first place. Some people, however, have certain medical conditions that prohibit them from receiving vaccinations. Dr. LaSalle says, “In order to protect these people from these infections, we need to provide them with a bubble of immunity. This is achieved by vaccinating as many people as possible around them.” So, when deciding whether or not to receive the flu shot this year, try thinking about someone other than yourself. For all you know, your next bad decision could cost someone his/her life.
Last year alone, the flu shot prevented 6.2 million flu illnesses, 3.2 million flu related medical visits, 91,000 flu associated hospitalizations, and 5,700 flu associated deaths. ICU admissions were reduced by 82% and hospital visits dropped to 40%. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Just look at these numbers! “Flu can be serious, and it kills tens of thousands of Americans each year. Vaccination is easier and more convenient than ever, so get yourself and your family protected,” says infectious disease and public health physician Tom Frieden. Getting your flu shot today could save your life and the lives of those around you.
Works Cited
Campbell, Leah. “I Never Get Sick. Why Do I Need the Flu Shot?” Healthline, Healthline Media, 7 Jan. 2020, www.healthline.com/health-news/i-never-get-sick-why-do-i-need-the-flu-shot#Preparing-for-the-second-wave. Accessed 2 Feb. 2020.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “What Are the Benefits of Flu Vaccination?” Cdc.Gov, 2019, www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccine-benefits.htm.
If You Knew About the Flu, You’d Get the Shot Too
“Achoooooo!” The student in the desk next to you has just sneezed. Little do you know that he/she has just released 100,000 infectious germs into the air at a speed up to 100 miles per hour. Now how on earth are you supposed to protect your body against something like that? U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say between 9.3 and 49 million flu cases occur in the U.S. alone each year. (Campbell) Anyone who has had the flu knows that it is a miserable experience, so why can’t health specialists find a way to put an end to this dreaded virus? It might come as a surprise to you, but an influenza vaccination has been created and, quite frankly, it’s saving lives.
Our world, as we know it today, is continuously growing. As of 2019, 7.7 billion people live on our small planet, crammed together in closely packed quarters with little to no elbow room. Because of this, germs spread easily. One very prominent virus is influenza, infecting millions of people throughout the world each year. The majority of those infected will experience standard symptoms, such as fever, body aches, and drainage, but the flu can very easily take a turn for the worse. For example, during the 2017-2018 flu epidemic, 80,000 people died, and 80-90% of the deceased had not received a flu shot that year. (Campbell) In actuality, less than half of the country, 46.8%, is vaccinated for the flu each year. Now if the flu kills, why wouldn’t you jump at a chance to protect yourself? The problem is, there are many misconceptions in society about receiving flu vaccinations.
Many people believe that they don’t need the shot, claiming, “I’ve never had the flu before, so I don’t need to start getting vaccinated now. Why risk it?” Well, family physician Dr. Gretchen LaSalle says, “Saying you have never had the flu so you don’t need the flu shot is, in my mind, like saying you’ve never been in a car accident so you don’t need a seatbelt.” The flu is unpredictable, so your health is more at risk by not receiving the shot than it would be if you were vaccinated. Another main misconception is that the flu shot actually gives you the flu. This is false. The flu shot exposes our immune systems to a DEAD influenza virus, allowing our bodies to develop a plan of attack for when/if we are exposed to the real virus. (Campbell) It’s really quite simple. If your body is prepared, then it can fight, but if your body is unprepared, fighting off the flu can very easily become a losing battle.
The vaccine may not be 100% effective when it comes to preventing the flu, but that’s no reason not to get it. If you think about it logically, what do you really have to lose? You can either not get the shot, risking the possibility of infection and, in extreme cases, death, or you can get vaccinated and decrease your chances of being infected in the first place. Some people, however, have certain medical conditions that prohibit them from receiving vaccinations. Dr. LaSalle says, “In order to protect these people from these infections, we need to provide them with a bubble of immunity. This is achieved by vaccinating as many people as possible around them.” So, when deciding whether or not to receive the flu shot this year, try thinking about someone other than yourself. For all you know, your next bad decision could cost someone his/her life.
Last year alone, the flu shot prevented 6.2 million flu illnesses, 3.2 million flu related medical visits, 91,000 flu associated hospitalizations, and 5,700 flu associated deaths. ICU admissions were reduced by 82% and hospital visits dropped to 40%. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Just look at these numbers! “Flu can be serious, and it kills tens of thousands of Americans each year. Vaccination is easier and more convenient than ever, so get yourself and your family protected,” says infectious disease and public health physician Tom Frieden. Getting your flu shot today could save your life and the lives of those around you.
Works Cited
Campbell, Leah. “I Never Get Sick. Why Do I Need the Flu Shot?” Healthline, Healthline Media, 7 Jan. 2020, www.healthline.com/health-news/i-never-get-sick-why-do-i-need-the-flu-shot#Preparing-for-the-second-wave. Accessed 2 Feb. 2020.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “What Are the Benefits of Flu Vaccination?” Cdc.Gov, 2019, www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccine-benefits.htm.