It’s time to get your Flu shot!

October 12th, 2014

If you haven’t gotten your Flu shot yet, now’s the time!  Flu vaccines are plentiful and practically every medical office is giving them out.

Here are some reasons why you should get the flu shot this year:

• The most common (Trivalent) vaccine is covered under most insurances, so it won’t cost you much money.  Many pharmacies can now administer flu shots.
• You don’t want to get the flu this year.  The early symptoms of the flu (fever, sore throat, and body ache) are similar to other scary diseases such as Ebola and Enterovirus (EV-D68).  Get the flu shot so you don’t have to have that extra worry.
• You don’t want to get sick while you’re on vacation.  All travelers should get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before traveling.  Planes are like petri dishes for all sorts of viruses and bacteria, especially with crowding of people and minimal cleaning in between flights.  Protect yourself with the flu shot!
• You never want to be the one who infects your family members during the holidays.  Flu spreads rapidly during family gatherings around the holidays.  Hugging, kissing, and sharing food allow for easy transmission.  If you have children, the flu shot is a MUST for you.  Imagine if you got the flu and your kid got it from you.  Young kids and elderly adults can develop life-threatening consequences such as pneumonia from the flu.  The best way to prevent the flu from spreading during the holiday season is by getting the flu shot.  Don’t be THAT guy/gal who ruins the holidays for everyone else!
• Think of all that time you will have not being sick!  Remember the last time you had a flu or bad cold.  You were probably out 3-5 days from work or worse, on your vacation, sick as a dog, laying in bed.  Now think about if you were given those days back.  Get your flu shot and you will prevent this from happening.
• It’s doesn’t hurt…  much.  Needles used for flu shots are much smaller than needles used for drawing blood.  Yes, you may feel a pinch, but it’s worth the discomfort.  If you want it to hurt less, take a pain reliever such as naproxen about 30 minutes before the shot.  You can also apply a cool pack for 1-2 minutes to numb your arm just before the shot.
• It’s never too early to get the flu shot!  I hear many people saying it’s too early to get the flu shot.  This is false.  You want to get it NOW before the supply runs out.  In the 2012-2013 season, there were severe shortages in January which caused a lot of chaos.  Don’t wait until this happens again!
• You may forget when the holidays season begins.  During the holidays, we are all busy with parties, shopping, and family gatherings.  It’s easy to forget about getting the flu shot.
• You believe in being healthy.  The flu is an infection with a virus that can cause inflammation in the body.  When your body experiences inflammation, you will produce hormones such as cortisol which lead to weight gain.  When you are sick, you will likely be lying in bed and eating fattier foods (e.g. chicken soup).  Studies have shown that excess inflammation can also lead to increased risk of heart disease.  Get your flu shot and you will be keeping yourself healthy and feeling better!