Each year, people of all ages die from the flu.
The flu season is upon us. If your home is like my household and you fell sick last week with something like it, you don’t need another reminder. But if you’re still sitting on the fence about the whole seasonal vaccination thing, here are a few points to consider.
Experts advise that sometimes, getting your flu shot isn’t just about protecting yourself. When you get that tiny needle, you could potentially be protecting your grandparents, parents, grandkids and neighbors. If you’ve had your shot, there’s now a higher chance that you won’t contract certain strains of the flu, and so you won’t pass them onto anyone else. The puck stops with you.
Aside from doing your bit of civic duty, there’s also the fact that the flu can be pretty nasty. Even otherwise healthy, strong individuals living in modern countries with access to good healthcare die from the flu each year. It might seem impossible, but it isn’t.
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Each year, children also die from the flu, as the severity of the symptoms can sometimes be hard to detect, and in infected individuals, things can go downhill quickly without notice, which is bad news in anyone. It’s worth protecting them.
Back in 1918, an epidemic of flu took the lives of over 50 million people worldwide. Medical experts say it could happen again.
It’s true that the flu vaccine that is developed each year is different, as varying strands of the flu come about each year. And the scientists don’t always get it right. In fact, they’re never 100% accurate in developing the flu vaccine. But, having it can help. Statistics show that 80% of those who died from the flu in the U.S last season didn’t have their flu shot.
Contact your local drug store or doctor for your flu shot.
Photo credits: Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock.com
