What if there was a medical treatment to prevent millions of people getting sick? A treatment so miraculous, that in developing countries, mothers will walk for miles bearing their young children to obtain it. A treatment, for a minimal cost and even more minimal risk, can prevent hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and deaths?
This is the power of a vaccination. For the past 50 years, the flu shot has helped people stay healthy. Getting a shot every year can increase protection – even in a particularly severe flu season and it saves lives.
In the 2019-2020 flu season, the CDC reported that 7.5 million cases of flu were prevented due to the annual flu vaccine. That is 3.7 million doctor visits prevented; 105,000 hospitalizations prevented; and 6300 deaths prevented. All thanks to this well-established, life-saving technology.
You also might wonder, what are the risks associated with a flu shot? The vaccine is so safe, it is recommended for all people aged 6 months and older. This include pregnant people, people with autoimmune conditions, and people who are immunocompromised due to cancer or HIV.
Can the flu shot give you the flu? The flu shot does not have the actual live virus – it contains pieces of a virus, or an inactivated / dead virus – to stimulate the immune system to fight the flu harder and fast. Therefore, after a vaccine you may feel a bit run down or have a sore arm. This is the immune system gearing up to fight the actual germ.
Why is there so much “bad press” about the flu shot? Honestly, I am not sure. My personal stance on vaccines as a physician and mother is, “I want all the vaccines! Sign me up for no polio and no measles and no tetanus. Sign me up to prevent my kids from being harmed by covid, the flu or chicken pox!” Yes, there are certain, but very limited, reasons someone should not have a flu shot. This includes allergy to eggs or suffering from a rare condition called Guillain-Barre.
Come flu season, please consider stopping by a flu clinic for your insurance-covered flu shot. Some medical organizations, like Christie Clinic, even offer drive-through flu shots, so you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own vehicle. A flu shot will not only protect your own health, but the health of your family and community.
Jennifer Wroblewski, MD
Department of Internal Medicine, Christie Clinic
*This content is published in paid partnership with Christie Clinic.
