Flu Shot: Do or Don’t

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Tori Heath

Andrea Burkhart (12) showing off her flu shot.

Emma Valentine, Business and Marketing Director

It’s that time of year again! People missing school and work, germs spreading like candy on Halloween. You got it; it’s time to welcome back the flu.

Thankfully, there is a way to combat many of these sickening strains: the flu shot.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), “Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently, but millions of people get the flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands or tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu.”

Junior Caitlyn Goodrich is a strong believer of the flu shot.

“I get it yearly,” she says, “and I’ve never had the flu. I think that it’s important to get vaccinated.”

But if flu shots are so important, how come so many people don’t get vaccinated? The main reason is because of all the misconceptions around flu shots.

According to the school nurse, Melissa Fore, most people don’t get flu shots because they are afraid of it giving them the flu.

“While some people may get the sniffles as a reaction from the shot, it’s not the start of the flu, and it’s safer in the end to get the shot. The only other reason you should not get a flu shot is if you are allergic to egg as they actually use egg in making the shot.”

According to medical officials, the flu shot has no effect in making you sicker, and its actually safer to get the shot as the flu can have greater consequences.

Goodrich says, “For those that don’t want to get the flu shot, I’m not going to judge, but it’s their choice. For me, I think that is is really beneficial, and it is better to be safe than sorry.”