This is your friendly reminder...

To get your flu shot. I feel like post-COVID, post-pandemic, after "the rona", the flu not only lost its spotlight, but has many shrugging it off as no big deal. While statisically, yes, the fatality rate of the seasonal flu is much lower than that of the COVID-19 infection, the risk still remains very real. Now more than ever, as COVID-19 strains are mutating to become more infectious but also more mild, it's time to rethink the flu and revisit that idea of the annual flu shot.

I still don't quite understand the hesitation about it, so let's take a look at some of the most common MYTHS surrounding the flu shot and why some avoid it...

1) "It makes me sick!"

No...it doesn't. Mild side effects that can resemble illness such as some body aches, fatigue, or chills can certainly be common after the flu shot, but they don't mean you have the flu. While the chances of you catching another illness with similar symptoms right around the time you got the flu shot are low...you may still catch the flu 2 weeks after receiving the vaccine, as the effect takes some time. So no, the flu shot can't give you the flu, it's a dead virus.

2) "I don't need it, I don't get sick"

I'm very happy that your immune system is kicking butt, but that doesn't mean it will let everything slide year after year. In fact, the pandemic has changed many aspects of our world, and this is one of them. What I mean is, now that many have let their guard down, you are that much more likely to catch the flu, and without the vaccine, you will be miserable. Trust me.

3) "I'm afraid I'll have a bad reaction"

The occurrence rate of rare adverse reactions to the flu shot are so low, you just have to trust the data on this one. Yes, I also know a guy who knew a guy that got a rare disease called Guillain-Barre syndrome after the flu shot, which, well, left him paralyzed (albeit temporarily); but the odds of that occurring are about are about 1-2 out of every million vaccines given, similar to other risks (CDC, 2015).

4) "I got the flu shot and still had the flu..."

I'm sorry that that happened to you. I genuinely am. But no vaccine is a guarantee (if COVID has taught us anything). However, the chances of you catching the flu are cut in half if you do get the flu shot (CDC, 2022). Not to mention, even if you do get the flu after all, you may not even notice it as it may pass you by similar to a cold...but without the vaccine, the flu can be a wild beast that will have you down for days. And I'm sure you don't want that.

CDC. (2015). Guillain-Barré syndrome and Flu Vaccine.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/guillainbarre.htm

CDC. (2022). Vaccine Effectiveness: How Well Do Flu Vaccines Work?

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/vaccineeffect.htm