Influenza

The Center for Disease Control states that influenza, more commonly known as the flu, is a respiratory disease, which can cause severe sickness that can sometimes lead to death. The virus infects the respiratory tract, the nose and throat, and can even infect the lungs which can lead to pneumonia. The onset of flu occurs very quickly with signs and symptoms of body aches, cough, sore throat, headache, tiredness, and sometimes fever and chills. People can easily come down with the flu as it is spread by droplets from coughing, sneezing, and even talking. Those 65 and older as well as children 18 and younger are twice as more likely to get the flu. Additionally, those with chronic conditions and pregnant women are at high risk for getting the flu.

The CDCs weekly flu article for week 4 states that out of 662, 536 cases tested since September 29^th over 107,343 cases have tested positive for the flu with 12, 715 cases testing positive in week 4 alone. Additionally, over 41 states with Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia reported high levels of influenza-like illness during week 4 alone. Similarly, 49 states and Puerto Rico reported flu activity in week 4. Many deaths have occurred from the flu this season with 68 pediatric deaths and with 6.7% of all death occurring because of pneumonia and the flu in week 3. However, the flu can be prevented and its effects lessened with the yearly flu vaccine. The CDC states that the vaccine effectiveness is somewhere between 40% to 60%; thus, those who are vaccinated have half the chance of getting the flu as someone who did not get the vaccination. The CDC recommends getting vaccinated in October before the flu becomes problematic so immunity can form. All regular-dose vaccinations this year are quadrivalent, meaning that they protect against 2 A viruses and 2 B viruses of the flu.

Because the flu can cause such serious complications, I believe it is absolutely necessary for everyone who is physically able to receive the flu vaccination. Not only will it protect you from getting the virus or a severe form of it, but it will also protect others around you, preventing spread of the virus. It is not right nor fair for a person to endanger another simply because they do not wish to spend time getting a vaccine. Flu vaccinations are absolutely critical for herd immunity—protection from the flu that occurs when all who can receive the vaccine receive it. Then, this would ensure that immunocompromised patients, older patients, and children have a smaller chance of getting the flu, especially as some immunocompromised patients and babies are not allowed to receive the vaccine at all. Though, the vaccine is normally is not 100% effective, some immunity is better than none at all. Additionally, I believe it is essential that people prevent the flu and spread of germs in their daily life by simply covering their mouth when they cough with the inside of their elbow, constantly washing their hands, and staying home when sick. Thus, everyone will be safer and healthier as their chance of getting the flu will smaller when people take precaution and get their fly vaccine.