By Damon Raskin, M.D. | Special to the Palisadian-Post
Q:Should I get the flu shot?
Every year around this time, I seem to have the same conversations with many of my patients. Should I get the flu shot? Will it make me sick and get the flu? How effective is it really this year? So what if I get the flu?
The 2017-18 influenza season is upon us, and it seems to be an especially bad year. The flu has hit all 50 states (with the exception of Hawaii) both early and hard. So far this year, California alone is reporting that 32 people under the age of 65 have died of the flu since October.
Flu strains vary from year to year, and this season the most common type is called H3N2, which has been dubbed the “Aussie Flu” since it wreaked havoc this year in Australia during our summer (their winter).
The flu, and especially this year’s H3N2 strain, tends to particularly affect older people. But very young children, pregnant women and people with long-term health conditions, like asthma or heart disease, are also vulnerable to complications from the flu like pneumonia.
Unfortunately, this year’s flu shot is felt to be less effective against this strain. Although it was only about 10 percent effective in Australia, the belief from the experts is that it will probably be in the 30 percent range here in the U.S. But that doesn’t mean you should skip it this year.
There is nothing special about the H3N2 strain. The same constellation of symptoms includes fever, body aches, chills and congestion. But don’t think of influenza as just a bad cold—even healthy people can develop complications, including pneumonia, hospitalization and death.
Despite many of my patients’ beliefs, it is a complete myth that you can get the flu from the flu vaccine. It is impossible because there is no live virus in the shot … only a small part of the virus, which allows your body to make antibodies to the flu and recognize it when it is infected.
It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to kick in for maximum protection. Because there are so many cold viruses and other bugs going around at the time that you might get the shot, you may have already been exposed to something right after getting the shot and you think it is the reaction to the shot. It is not, and this should not dissuade you from getting it.
In addition, even if you get the flu despite getting the flu shot, your flu symptoms may be less severe and there is less of a chance of severe post-flu complications.
Washing your hands often, avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and face, and avoiding close contact with people who are sick are other ways to help prevent the flu. If you do get the flu, you should stay home to keep the illness from spreading to others.
As far as global travelers, get the shot for sure, as there are so many ill contacts in airports and airplanes.
The earlier you get the shot in the season, the better. But it is still not too late!
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