Flu Vaccine Revisited

Several months ago I wrote about getting your flu vaccine.  I'm bringing it up again to stress the importance of getting you and your children their flu vaccine.  As U.S. citizens we worry a lot about things that can potentially kill us.  Think about the increased efforts to protect ourselves from terrorists attacks.  Yet the number of deaths due to terrorists on American soil since 9-11-2001 is exactly ZERO!  That's not to say we shouldn't spend money on defending ourselves from terrorists, but I can use this to put the flu vaccine in perspective.

The flu vaccine is something that most Americans are ho-hum about.  If they have the time, they may go get the flu vaccine, but it's almost as if it's an afterthought.  I'm a perfect example of this.  I didn't get my first flu shot until 6 years ago, a few months before my first daughter was born.  Having kids has really tuned me into taking care of my own health.  

So why are Americans super concerned about terrorists attacks, yet not so concerned about the flu?  To be honest, I don't know.  ZERO deaths on American soil due to terrorists in the last 11+ years.  Yet the flu kills, on average, 30,000+ Americans EACH year!!!  Most of those deaths are among people 65 years or older.  The remainder of deaths are usually among young children and other individuals with weaker immune systems.  However, there are perfectly healthy adults who die from the flu every year.  

The best time to get the flu vaccine is in the Fall (September or October).  The flu season usually doesn't begin until December or January, but it takes a couple of weeks for the flu vaccine to be fully effective.  Plus, getting your flu vaccine early helps you avoid lines and the possibility of flu vaccine shortages.  This flu season  has been particularly strong and people are rushing to get their flu vaccine right now.  As a result there are shortages of the flu vaccine in some places.  

Are you avoiding the flu shot because you have some misconception that's stopping you?  Here's a good article from CNN debunking a few common flu vaccine myths.  

Debunking Flu Vaccine Myths

One of the common myths is that the flu vaccine is not always effective.  In sense, that is true.  You can still get the flu despite receiving the flu vaccine.  Having the flue vaccine, however, can help reduce the severity of flu symptoms,  so even if you get the flu, receiving the vaccine beforehand does have a benefit.  The flu vaccine itself, however, does not give you the flu.  This is another common myth.

I encourage you, especially if you have kids or around kids or the elderly, to buck it up, be a man (or woman!), and get the flu vaccine.  No more excuses!!!