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The Flu (Shot) and You
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Comments (2)The other day I realized that summer was over when I noticed my local drugstore’s windows piled high with holiday merchandise. Yes, it’s that time again. The weather is changing and the days are getting shorter. Leaves are turning red and orange and falling, accumulating in annoying blankets on the front lawn. And, lest we forget, the onslaught of TV announcements urging us to get our flu shots has begun. Since a wave of unreliable studies on the efficacy of the flu vaccine and its shortage in 2005, we’ve faced another conundrum. Just how risky is the flu, and how effective is the vaccine?
- Not effective in preventing flu-like illness
- Not effective in preventing pneumonia
- 26% effective in preventing hospital admission for flu and pneumonia
Older Americans might do best to keep their risk in perspective. But shots are free from Medicare, which recommends that the best time to vaccinate is between October and mid-November. I personally have never taken the vaccine and I consider myself lucky to have been fairly healthy. But I’m glad that the vaccine has been available to my older relatives when they needed it.
Best wishes for a flu-free fall!
Posted in: Editorials
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