I usually get a flu shot around this time each year and, in recent years, an updated COVID vaccine. I sit at my computer, go on my local retail pharmacy’s website, and select a date for my immunizations in the not-too-distant future so I’ll have adequate protection during that flu season. In addition, I’m convinced (especially at my age) that getting a COVID “booster” is a wise thing to do. Having kept up with the statistics on this year’s flu and recognizing the severity of the strain, I booted up the computer and went on my pharmacy’s website at 7 a.m. yesterday. Much to my surprise, every slot was open for the day. I made my selection and, by 11 that morning, I received both of my wanted shots.
Why do I bring this up? Well, the fact that all of the slots were still open on the day of request raised a big question in my mind, and that is: why aren’t people taking advantage of getting at least the yearly flu shot? It seems to me that it would be the smart thing to do, especially with a more virulent strain, subclade K, circulating this year. And while this year’s vaccine does not specifically contain the subclade K variant, which is an A-type flu strain (specifically an H3N2 virus), studies have shown that this year’s flu shot is still effective in neutralizing the virus.
The folks at CNN seem concerned (based on this article from its website), even if our own Secretary of Health and Human Services doesn’t appear to be. (Does the current horrific measles outbreak, including multiple fatalities, ring a bell?) The CNN article opines “[t]hat’s why infectious disease experts are telling people to run, not walk, to get this season’s flu shot if they haven’t yet.”
The article continues, “But you may be wondering whether getting a flu vaccine will still help or even if getting the vaccine might be riskier than getting sick. It can help, and the flu is far riskier—but misinformation about vaccines is almost as rampant as the germs they protect against, and it can be hard to know what to believe.”
There is a lot of misinformation about the flu vaccine in general, such as “it won’t keep me from getting the flu.” While this is true, the fact is that those people who are vaccinated and get the flu will likely have a milder case and recover faster. Some people think that the flu shot will give you the flu. Not so! I didn’t even have any pain in my arm after getting the shot this time and, thus far, in the 24 hours since receiving it, I haven’t had any of the typical symptoms that can happen after any vaccine, like feeling tired or sick. Admittedly, I’m an “N” of 1, but I can report that my wife also didn’t have any of the typical side effects either, so raise that to an N of 2! And because of our ages, we received the stronger version of the flu shot! Be certain—I am not telling you to get the flu shot—but I am also not going to stand idly by and not point out that the science strongly suggests that you should, especially since the administration has decided, after years and years, not to include the flu vaccine on the list of recommended vaccines.
If you’re on the fence and can’t make the decision yourself, I implore you to seek advice from your healthcare provider and together decide what’s right for you.
