Flu Season 2017-2018

September 30th, 2017

It’s that time of year again, time to get your annual Flu shot!  I strongly recommend that you get the flu shot this year, as everything is pointing to a particularly awful year for the flu.  I overheard someone recently saying, “They always say it’s going to be a bad season.”  I disagree and here are some reasons why you definitely need to get your flu shot this year.

• We have had many terrible natural disasters in the US and Caribbean (Hurricane Irma, Jose, and Maria) and several earthquakes in densely populated Mexico city.  This causes a breakdown in the healthcare system that would’ve provided vaccines to millions.  Flu vaccines require refrigeration and loss of power destroys the supply.  Loss of homes also means people will be gathering in large numbers at shelters sharing showers and bathrooms.  This will allow for the flu virus to spread easily among large populations.
• Australia’s flu season was quite severe this past year.  Since Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, their flu season is during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer months.  Typically, the flu season in the Northern Hemisphere will follow the Southern Hemisphere.  As commercial flights become more accessible, viruses such as the flu can spread very easily between continents and hemispheres.
• The strain that affected Australia, H3N2, is known for causing nasty symptoms.

The Bottom Line:  Everyone 6 months or older needs to get the flu shot.  The flu shot is in plentiful supply right now at most medical offices and pharmacies and flu shots are covered by insurance.  Protect yourself and also protect your loved ones.  If you get the flu, you could spread it to your parents or your children.  Need more convincing, read this blog.