Flu shot saves lives
Family Health
With flu season upon us, now is the time to get vaccinated
It’s true: Flu vaccine effectiveness varies each year. But that’s not an excuse to skip vaccination. Studies show that getting the flu shot can lower your risk of getting sick by 40 to 60 percent, depending on the season.
“It’s a good vaccine. It’s safe,” says Laura Floyd, registered nurse and manager of St. Joseph’s/Candler Occupational Health Services. “It’s not 100 percent effective, but there is evidence that if you get a strain
of the flu not covered in the vaccine, your illness could be shorter and milder.” 
A study by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that if 43 percent of Americans received a low-efficacy vaccine, it would still prevent about:
- 21 million people from getting sick
- 130,000 hospitalizations
- 62,000 deaths
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends flu vaccination in the month of October for everyone six months and older. This is especially important for those with underlying health conditions such as lung disease, obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, kidney/liver disease or those over age 65 because they are at greater risk of severe complications of the flu. But even young, healthy adults need to get vaccinated.
That’s because the flu vaccine is the No. 1 way to protect yourself against the flu, so it’s important to get vaccinated each year. And with COVID-19 still rampant, it’s more important than ever to get vaccinated now.
“I think it’s the responsible thing to do because there’s a vaccine available so the illness is preventable in a lot of ways,” Floyd says. “It keeps us safe, our families safe and our patients safe.”
Related Article: Can I get both the flu and COVID at the same time
Flu shots are readily available – and oftentimes free, covered by insurance or available at a low cost – at many neighborhood pharmacies, your primary care doctor’s office and the public health department. Now is the time to get your flu shot.
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