The flu has become so prevalent today, many people dismiss it as an inevitable yet minor illness to occasionally deal with and easily overcome. The reality is the flu can have serious, life-threatening consequences, especially for children, the elderly, and those with chronic health conditions. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent flu-related complications, but keeping up with your vaccination is your decision. Make the smart choice for the people around you — learn why getting your flu vaccination every year can help protect you and the ones you love.
1. Strains change from year to year.
Unfortunately, the vaccine you received last year probably won’t be effective this year. The prevalent flu virus changes from year to year, meaning the virus type circulating now could be totally different from the type you were previously vaccinated for, leaving you vulnerable for infection. According to the CDC, vaccines vary by subtypes from year to year, but generally perform better against influenza B and influenza A(H1N1) viruses and offer less protection against influenza A(H3N2) viruses.
2. Vaccination reduces the risk for serious illness.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, flu vaccination prevented an estimated 3.7 million flu-related medical visits and 105,000 flu-related hospitalizations in 2019-2020, the last flu season before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Furthermore, a 2021 study showed adults hospitalized with the flu were 26% less likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit.
3. Side effects are mild.
The idea that you can contract the flu from the flu vaccine is a common misconception. Flu vaccines are typically developed with viruses that have been killed — or inactivated — rendering them non-infectious or are made with proteins from the flu virus. While contracting the flu from the vaccine is an impossibility, vaccination does occasionally come with some side effects that are mild in comparison to the disease itself. Common side effects can include:
- Soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site
- Low-grade headache
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Nausea
- Fatigue
4. Vaccination can save your child’s life.
According to the CDC, children younger than 5 years old — as well as children of any age with chronic health conditions — are at an especially high risk of flu-related complications. CDC estimates show anywhere from 6,000 27,000 children younger than 5 hospitalized annually with the flu — in some rare cases, the disease can be deadly. However, a 2022 study by the National Institutes of Health showed vaccination can help reduce the risk of life-threatening, flu-related illness in children by 75%.
5. Protect others around you.
While vaccination is an effective way to reduce the risk of severe illness in yourself, it’s also a great way to protect others from severe illness. Adults with chronic health issues such as heart disease, COPD, and diabetes are a higher risk of flu-related complications, as are pregnant and elderly people. Getting vaccinated can help reduce the spread of the flu to more vulnerable people in your life.
Protect yourself and others around you from the flu. Schedule an appointment with your provider at Family Medicine of visit the Warner Hospital Walk-in Clinic today!
