Should you get the Flu Vaccine this season?
JANICE (JEN) TEAL – After seeing multiple flyers of flu vaccines being offered at UGA, I finally got mine at the University of Georgia Health Clinic. I have always been a bit reluctant of flu vaccines. The idea of getting them EVERY SINGLE YEAR is just too much needle poking for me to be comfortable with. But alas, after having gotten sick with Covid I decided that I would reduce my chances of becoming sick again by ZERO (zero is an unrealistic number but let me dream). When I went in to get my shot, the usual fears of needles came into my mind. I got sweaty as I walked in for my appointment, and I kept trying to keep myself from screaming and running away as I would often do when I was about to get a shot as a child. As the nurse came in and applied the shot, it did not help that she mischievously grinned and said “Wow, I am so glad you came in today.” As she gave me the shot and the liquid burned beneath my skin, I could not help but think that she had just infected me with a lethal virus and I was her first victim. A few days passed and I was glad to confirm that she was not a crime lord. As my classmates, roommates, friends, and partner have gotten sick, I have been the badge of immunity. So, as you are deciding on whether to go get a flu shot or not, here are a few things to consider:
1) The vaccine doesn’t give you the flu!
Yay! You don’t have to worry that getting a flu shot is an act of masochism! According to the CDC, Flu vaccines either contain an inactivated virus or a particle designed to look like a flu virus to your immune system. In other words, the flu shot does not contain the same virus that you would typically get sick from.
2) It is OK to get the flu and covid shot at the same time
The only thing scarier than getting covid is getting the flu at the same time. Can you imagine the pain? But no worries, if you want to prevent both of these bothersome and painful viruses you can get vaccinated for both! These vaccines do not negatively interact with each other and have shown positive results when they are applied together. According to a study by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, patients who got Covid and Flu shots at the same time produced a stronger antibody response against the coronavirus than those who got the vaccines at different times (Barough et al, 2023). When you walk into that clinic don’t be afraid to get both!
3) The shot can reduce your chance of getting the flu by a significant amount
According to the CDC, getting your flu shot reduces your chances of going to the doctor by 40-60% and also decreases a patient’s chance of dying from the flu by 31% (Ferdinands et all, 2022).
4) Side Effects only last 2 days
According to the NIH, having side effects can be a positive sign that the vaccine is being successful at teaching the immune system how to protect itself. But don’t worry! If you get any symptoms, they are typically mild and last a day or two. To be on the safe side, I would suggest getting the flu vaccine on a Friday so you can have the weekend to recover.
5) Don’t worry about the cost!
Flu vaccines are generally offered in most pharmacies, doctor offices, urgent care centers, and county health departments. Even if you don’t have insurance, you can still get a free or low cost shot at your local community clinic. Don’t be afraid to ask!
Put your fear of needles aside and stay safe this fall! For once, you won’t have to worry about your young cousins coughing next to you at Thanksgiving (or maybe it’s worth wearing a mask to be safe; they’re gross.)
Copy Editor – Madden Lundy
Photography Source – https://trumedsystems.com/blog/flu-vaccine-refrigeration/