Another flu season is upon us. Old and new variants of the flu have arrived, and the risk of contracting the flu from one of these variants remains as high as ever, and our only real protection is the flu vaccine. Serious medical problems, hospitalizations and death are well-known and unfortunately very real consequences of the flu for many Americans.
Why should we get a flu shot? The answer is simple: the flu vaccine saves lives. While it is certainly not a perfect vaccination, studies have consistently demonstrated that the risk of serious injury and death is dramatically reduced in the population that is vaccinated each year with that year’s flu vaccine. This is particularly true for the older members of the population.
It is important to note that the flu strains that appear each year vary to some degree from the strains that presented themselves in the prior year. Flu vaccines are created based upon the strains presented in the prior year, so their efficacy is never 100%. But even with new strains appearing, the vaccination’s effectiveness against preexisting strains still dramatically reduces the rate of hospitalization and mortality.
Fears created by misinformation and exaggeration on the internet have impacted some people’s view of the risks associated with vaccination. Vaccinations do have some risks. However, that risk has been demonstrated to be extremely low. In the vast body of medical literature that addresses risks associated with vaccine, there is no reliable epidemiologic study or other convincing medical evidence that supports any meaningful proof of causation between vaccination and injury. While a few vaccines have been “associated” with untoward outcome, those outcomes are so rare that they do not rise to the level of epidemiologic significance. What this means is, the statistics of science and medicine continues to confirm that flu vaccines and vaccines of all types are not only safe, but that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh any risks. The fear of an adverse outcome from vaccination should easily be overcome by the knowledge that the vaccination will eliminate a very statistically significant risk associated with disease, particularly the flu. We all face risks in our lives everyday which we confront, such as getting in a car, a plane, walking on city streets and eating foods with fat, sugar and other chemical additives. The risks associated with vaccines, particularly the flu shot, are statistically far less than those from our everyday risk-taking activities.
Now is the time of year to get our flu shot. The flu typically arrives in our temperate climate regions at this time of year and continues to impact us through the winter. Getting vaccinated now will provide protection against many strains that are leading people to develop illness and require hospitalization right through this entire flu season into the spring.
The flu shot is of course only one vaccine. We should all carefully consider the potential benefits of all of the available vaccinations weighed against the comparatively microscopic risk of developing an adverse reaction to that vaccination. We have vaccines that can protect us against not only the flu, but catastrophic diseases such as chicken pox, polio, measles and of course, COVID. Although COVID is now receiving less publicity, and there are fortunately fewer hospitalizations and deaths, the COVID vaccine remains readily available and effective in reducing the risk of developing COVID and dealing with its complications.
Our body has the ability to create defenses against the flu and a myriad of other conditions with the aid of vaccinations. While we should all obtain all of the recommended adult vaccinations, the flu shot is particularly easy to obtain, has minimal side effects and becomes more and more valuable as one ages. Of course, not only do you protect yourself when getting the flu shot and other vaccines, but also you protect your family, friends and those around you by being vaccinated and not contracting these readily transmissible conditions.
One final word. Stay out of chatrooms and unknown, unsubstantiated discussions about the risks associated with vaccine based upon individual, anecdotal story telling. The research on vaccines is abundant and clear. Read peer-reviewed literature. Read scientific journals. The conclusion will be self-evident: get your vaccinations, and, in particular, your flu vaccination, now.