Medical experts tell us every year about the importance of receiving the influenza vaccine, but unfortunately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that only about half of the U.S. population receives an annual flu shot.
Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.
Except for last year, the CDC estimates that an average of 36,000 people died of the flu each year over the past decade.
Compared to all other recent flu seasons, last year the flu was nearly non-existent, which could give individuals the belief that they need not get vaccinated this year, which is a terribly misguided misinterpretation of the facts.
The flu was close to non-existent last year because due to the coronavirus the majority of us were social distancing, wearing masks when out and about, and schools and businesses were closed, which dramatically reduced the transmission of influenza everywhere. It is very difficult to predict what is going to happen this year, but with our society opening up again in many ways compared to last year, it could be that a potentially worse flu season is on the horizon. It could happen earlier; it could be more severe; it could stretch longer.
Because flu strains are constantly changing, flu vaccine effectiveness changes each year. Even if the flu vaccine were only 30 percent effective, given how common the flu is ordinarily, it would still prevent tens of thousands of infections in the greater Indianapolis area if everyone got vaccinated. But more importantly, flu vaccine protects you from the worst forms of the flu. In other words, you may still get the illness after a flu shot, but you probably would have been a lot sicker without the vaccine.
The bottom line is according to the CDC, everyone six months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every year before flu activity begins.
Getting the flu vaccine (and the COVID-19 vaccine) is the best way to protect yourself this fall. Those who are unvaccinated are at risk of contracting severe cases of COVID-19 and the flu. If you contract them at the same time, or even around the same time, it could take a huge toll on your health. It is permissible to get a flu shot and COVID-19 vaccination at the same time, although it’s suggested using a different arm for each.
In addition to scheduling flu shots for yourself and your children, the youngest Americans yet — children ages 5 to 11 — are now eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
While some parents are apprehensive about getting their children vaccinated, U.S. health officials relied on a Pfizer study of about 3,000 children between 5 and 11, which found that its vaccine was 90.7 percent effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infections at least seven days after the second dose.
According to the CDC, COVID-19 vaccines have undergone — and will continue to undergo — the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. Vaccinating children will help protect them from getting COVID-19 and therefore reducing their risk of severe disease, hospitalizations, or developing long-term COVID-19 complications. Getting your children vaccinated can help protect them against COVID-19, as well as reduce disruptions to in-person learning and activities by helping curb community transmission.
Flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines are offered at all Eskenazi Health pharmacies. The vaccines are offered for free to everyone, including non-patients. Vaccines are offered on a walk-in basis during regular pharmacy business hours.
Nydia Nunez-Estrada, M.D.,
Family Medicine Specialist with Eskenazi Health Center North Arlington