The Flu season is underway! Get your flu shot now!

January 12th, 2019

The CDC has just announced that the dreaded flu season is upon us.  This usually occurs after Christmas and New Year’s holidays when we gather together and change our routines (not as much sleep, too much alcohol, too much fatty foods, and a break from our usual exercise regimen).  In my own practice, I am seeing many cases of the flu and mainly among people who have not gotten the flu vaccine.  I strongly recommend that if you haven’t gotten the flu vaccine, you should get it now.  Currently, there is no flu vaccine shortage, so you can definitely get it from your primary care provider’s office, local urgent care, or many pharmacies.

Need more reasons to get the flu shot?  Here are a few of them:

1. Getting the flu means 2 or more weeks of feeling miserable and usually happens at the worst possible time (your long awaited vacation, wedding, Christmas holiday, etc.)
2. It is covered under all insurances and medicare.  If you don’t have insurance, some community health centers can provide it for free.  Check with your local public hospital.
3. It’s quick!  A typical flu shot takes 30 seconds.  Make sure you wear clothing where you can roll up your sleeves to the deltoid muscle.
4. It hurts for only 1-2 days.  Yes, most flu shots can cause some local pain, but that’s temporary and pales in comparison to the body aches when you are getting the actual flu.
5. The flu shot takes 2 weeks to become effective.  Getting a flu shot now will ensure that you are protected before the holiday season.
6. By getting the flu shot, you are not only protecting yourself but also your family.  If you got the flu you could spread it to your children or elderly relatives.  Anyone with a newborn less than 12 months old absolutely needs to get a flu shot, even if the newborn already got the flu shot.  Because their immune systems aren’t fully developed, they can get infected by the flu virus very easily.
7. The flu shot can prevent you from losing weight.  This sounds like a stretch, but imagine you are sick with the flu, you will not likely be hitting the gym, and instead you’ll be drinking plenty of fat-laden chicken soups, possibly ice cream to soothe your sore throat, not to mention sugary lozenges and honey.  Inflammation in the body often releases a hormone called cortisol which can lead to weight gain by increasing the sugar levels in your blood as well as hunger.  Don’t let the flu ruin your new year’s resolution to shed those pounds.
8. The flu is not “just a bad cold”.  The flu virus generally causes an illness with fevers, chills, sore throat, and body aches, but it can also cause a serious condition called encephalitis which is a brain disease and can cause death.  The flu can also lower your immune system and put you at risk for getting pneumonia or bronchitis which can result in hospitalization.
9. You never want to be THAT person that gets everyone else sick in the office or family.  Be considerate of your fellow human beings.  Make sure the flu stops with you!