I ❤️ Flu Shots!

It’s not too late to get yours!

Influenza rates are high right now, hopefully at the peak. Flu season can go to May, so there is still a benefit to rolling up your sleeve to get one.

It helps to understand that flu shots frequently don’t prevent infection, but they prevent serious illness and death. They also make everyone’s flu a little bit less severe. For example, people who would have gone to the ICU are are treated without intensive care. People who would have been admitted to the hospital are able to go home from the emergency room. And many people who are vaccinated and get the flu are spared a trip to the Emergency Department.

For people who don’t get very sick from the flu, getting vaccinated can prevent you from giving it to someone who does.

A lot of people get sick after getting a flu shot–it might be a common cold since they are frequent this time of year, or it might have been a more severe infection.

My patients and parents worry about whether vaccinations can weaken your immune system. Did you know it would take 10,000 vaccinations at the same time to temporarily use up your ability to fight off a virus? The flu however can set you up for getting pneumonia and ear infections.

Influenza vaccine very rarely can have serious side effects, such as Guillain Barre syndrome, which occurs in one or two people per million vaccinated. This is far lower than the risk with influenza infection.

Vaccine induced immunity can be as strong as immunity produced by infection, and is certainly a lot more pleasant to acquire.

This is why I love getting and giving flu shots. I also know my patients have may different bodies and histories, and it’s important to be able to discuss your concerns with a doctor who listens.