9 Undebatable Points: Get Your Influenza Vaccine Now
Where did this year go? (Down the toilet, to the dogs….) Certainly there’s no taking a reminiscent tone when pondering 2020. But seriously, where did it go? Seems like just yesterday we were all closed up in our houses and venturing out to get the paper in our Sunday best. Wait…that actually was yesterday. Except now, we are on the threshold of cold and flu season.
This fall, more than in any previous year, getting your and your (older than 6 months) kids the influenza vaccine is of tantamount importance. In this time of a global pandemic and also with ever-improving science, the reasons to not get the shot are dwindling. Even though it’s recommended we shrink our social bubbles in preparation for the Season of Sick, our kids are still going to school. We still run errands and make it to doctors’ appointments. And even though many of us wear masks, many of us don’t. In short, we will still be interacting with other humans in the course of our day. So the influenza vaccine is still relevant, not just within our family cohorts but ever-more-necessary to the health of our communities in the time of COVID.
I’ve written several posts in the past making the case for the influenza vaccine so feel free to click here for more info. And here. And also here. I could repeat it all in this post but in this very special episode of GET YOUR FREAKIN’ FLU SHOT I want to focus on the the newer updates in flu vax options and also the very special circumstance of COVID.
But some things regarding the influenza vaccine never change. Like how the case for getting one lends itself to mainstream, iconic advertising slogans:
No Excuses.
Just Do It.
I’m Lovin’ It
Yes, we should be truly lovin’ how far science has gone to make the flu vaccine accessible to those with egg allergies, needle allergies and thimerosal aversions. Because now, 19 percent of manufactured doses are egg protein-free. While a true life-threatening anaphylactic reaction to ovalbumin is rare, no one with an egg allergy should risk getting the traditional flu shot. Now there is the Flublok Quadrivalent (for adults) and the Flucelvax Quadrivalent (for ages four and up) for the egg-sensitive. And the nasal spray Flumist is still an option…brought back in 2018 after a forced two-year hiatus for reduced effectiveness. AND most (87 percent) flu shots manufactured are Thimerosal-free or Thimerosal-reduced.
And the herd mentality about herd immunity: herd immunity for influenza doesn’t exist. With recent CDC data showing that half of Americans eligible for the flu vaccine chose to forgo it, millions of people are highly susceptible to the deadly influenza virus. The concept that I-don’t-have-to-get-the-flu-shot-because-everyone-else-has-and-therefore-I-am-safe, is totally out the window.
Basically, there are no great reasons for not getting a flu shot.*
**mic drop**
So with options for the flu shot for even the most gun-shy, and herd immunity nonexistent, let’s pull the trigger on how to navigate getting vaccinated in the time of COVID…a time when we must social-distance, not stand in long lines for shots, and when we should avoid hot beds of illness like the doctor’s office. Reducing our risk of contracting and spreading COVID and reducing our risk of contracting and spreading influenza seem to be at odds. But with some planning and understanding, staying healthy can be achieved.
Get your flu shot early. As in years past, this advice remains unchanged. The best time to get vaccinated is late September or early October (but, as always, better late than never!). Peak influenza season is generally from December through February, so getting your family’s flu shots before this time is important. It takes about two weeks to gain optimal immunity after receiving the vaccine, so continue to exercise extra care around others until that time has passed. (Note, however, practicing good hygiene and wearing masks and distancing all the time is really important these days.)
Reason to vaccinate early 2.0: the possibility of a COVID vaccine. In the chance that an effective, safe COVID vaccine is ready for mass distribution during the 2020-2021 flu season, there could be a shortage of supplies used to manufacture the flu vaccine as the needs for both overlap. And speaking of limited accessibility of supplies, testing for influenza and COVID uses the same techniques (PCR), meaning a shortage of testing reagents and tests for both infections. So get a flu shot and should you come down with cough, fever, body aches, and fatigue…to name a few of the symptoms common to both influenza and COVID…your healthcare provider can order more directed testing for you. Not only will this reduce your medical bill, it will conserve valuable testing resources.
Don’t want to visit a busy clinic? Don’t blame you. A doctor’s office sounds like a terrible place to visit during cold/flu/COVID season. In truth, though, it’s probably one of the safest spots to see-and-be-seen. Healthcare facilities maintain stringent disinfection policies, and they also take care to separate those who are actively ill from those coming in for routine health maintenance visits. So don’t hesitate to schedule that flu shot with your doctor’s office, or pharmacy. Still want to keep extra distance? Search Google for “(enter your state here) flu vaccine info” to find off-site flu vaccine clinics…outdoor, drive-through or other. Or call your local health department for guidance on obtaining vaccines free-of-charge. Another possibility is calling “211” or “311” to learn about where to get vaccinated in your area; this service was established by September 1, but does not cover every location.
Do it all in one shot. But not literally. However, do try to get everyone in your family vaccinated at the same time, so no one is left out. Some pediatric offices will vaccinate the adults when the kids are scheduled to come in for their flu shots. Definitely inquire about this possibility.
And don’t let the numbers fool you. I was surprised to read that on average the influenza vaccine is 40 percent effective. That doesn’t seem worth the shot, but think of it this way: a sale on, well, anything, at 40 percent off is pretty darn good. That’s a chunk of change. When “40 percent effective” means a 40 percent decrease in the risk of severe influenza symptoms if a person becomes infected, that’s a good chunk of the odds eliminated. And given the speculation that the one-two punch of a double influenza/COVID infection could be fatal, take the 40 percent.
Finally, do it for your community. Even though the flu vaccine has become more accessible to more people, there are still populations who cannot get vaccinated against influenza: infants under six months of age and the immunocompromised. Get vaccinated for them and bring real herd immunity closer to reality. Also, your medical community is already overwhelmed with COVID. Get your flu shot and be part of the reason your local hospital and emergency rooms don’t feel an even larger strain on their abilities and resources.
In short, don’t be the reason the vulnerable get sick or even die. Now, in the time of a global pandemic with no clear end in sight, we need to think how just a small amount of effort and an even smaller amount of physical discomfort can save lives. Literally.
*Unless you are immunocompromised and/or under six months of age.
Links to previous pulseonparenting.com posts on influenza and the influenza vaccine:
The Influenza Vaccine: Setting the Records Straight (2014)
The Influenza Vaccine: Setting the Records Straight, Part 2 (2015)
The Influenza Vaccine: Questions Answered, Myths Dispelled (2017)
The Influenza Vaccine: You Can’t Make This Stuff Up (2018)
Can Vitamin D Prevent Influenza? (2018)
Stock Up for Cold and Flu (and Influenza) Season: What to Keep on Hand (2019)
Sources for this post:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/acip/summary/summary-recommendations.htm#composition
https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/09/418406/why-covid-19-means-you-need-flu-shot-year
