October’s arrival finally brought long-awaited fall temperatures, Halloween preparation, and many different school functions. With all the good things October has brought, this month has also brought a few negative things as well—flu season. As October progresses, the flu attacks the kids at Union Public Schools, teachers and many other members of our community. In order to properly protect every member of our community, Union residents should learn the benefits of the flu shot to dispel the many myths surrounding the vaccine. Union residents would greatly benefit themselves and other residents by getting themselves vaccinated.
Many myths surround flu vaccination, and this can be seen most clearly on social media. Many claims circulate on social media about how the flu vaccination “does not work” or how vaccination “spreads the Flu virus.” All of this is false. According to the Center for Disease Control, “during 2016-2017, flu vaccination prevented an estimated 5.3 million influenza illnesses, 2.6 million influenza-associated medical visits, and 85,000 influenza-associated hospitalizations.” The flu vaccine prevents millions of flu illnesses each year; the flu vaccine clearly works. Sometimes, however, even when one gets the flu vaccine, he or she will still contract the flu virus. This does not mean that the flu vaccination does not work; this simply means that the vaccine does not completely match the circulating flu strains. The vaccine is engineered to combat the most common strain, but sometimes, a rarer strain will circulate. The Center for Disease Control states that “in seasons when the vaccine viruses matched circulating strains, flu vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor by 40 percent to 60 percent.” The flu vaccine is the most effective way to defend against the flu virus.
Even when the rarer strains of flu virus circulate, the flu vaccination still reduces the effects of the illness in people who contract influenza even though they are vaccinated. The Center for Disease Control cites a 2018 study that states that vaccinated adults with the flu are “59 percent less likely” to require Intensive Care Unit care. They also spent “four fewer days in the hospital than those who were not vaccinated.” The flu vaccination provides the best defense against the flu virus and even reduces the severity of the disease. These are many personal benefits, but the flu vaccine can also help protect those who cannot receive vaccination.
The flu vaccine also provides many more benefits for pregnant women, babies and those who cannot receive a vaccine due to medical reasons. When pregnant women receive a flu vaccine, not only does it reduce her risk of hospitalization, it also protects the baby “for several months after birth, when he or she is not old enough to be vaccinated.” Furthermore, flu vaccination also greatly reduces the chance of children dying from the flu virus. Some people also cannot receive the flu vaccine due to medical reasons—older people, people with certain chronic diseases and people with compromised immune systems. In order to protect them, everyone who can receive a vaccine should receive a vaccine. This concept is known as herd immunity, and this helps provide resistance to the flu due to a high percent of the population being immune to the disease. Although younger, healthier residents may be able to easily recover from the flu, these other residents cannot, and the flu can potentially kill them. Therefore, herd immunity is extremely valuable to them.
As flu season kicks off, Union residents who can be vaccinated should receive a flu vaccine. This vaccine will protect our children, parents, teachers and everyone else who lives and works in our town. Fred’s Pharmacy and the clinic in Union both offer the flu vaccine. This will take barely any time out of any resident’s busy schedule and will benefit the community more than anyone really knows. Flu vaccination will provide personal protection from the flu virus and protection for the community as well. For more information about the benefits of the flu vaccine, visit the Center for Disease Control’s website and search for the benefits of the flu vaccine. This will dispel any myths about the flu shot and provide more information than I have offered. The flu shot will greatly benefit Union, and everyone will benefit from receiving one.
