4 Reasons to Get A Flu Shot This Year
The weather is getting colder and that means it’s time for your annual flu shot. However, many people have resist getting the influenza vaccine. That’s the point of this article. We’ve got four good reasons why you should get your flu shot this year.
1. The Flu Is More Dangerous Than You Think
Many people don’t realize how dangerous influenza can be. This goes for normal adults, but there are some groups that are at exceptional risk from the flu. These groups include:
• Adults 65 and older
• People with conditions that reduce the effectiveness of their immune system, like HIV and AIDS
• Those with heart disease
• Those that work with or around children
• Pregnant women
• Cancer patients
• People with chronic conditions like diabetes or asthma
It’s important to keep in mind that a flu shot is still a good idea, even if you don’t fit into this list, that’s because more than 200,000 people each year go to the hospital for the flu. That can be a costly hospital trip for many patients.
Additionally, the flu can be fatal. Estimates vary, but between 3,000 and 49,000 people have died in the United States since 1976 from influenza. Getting a flu shot can be a life-saving decision.
2. Last Year’s Flu Shot Isn’t Enough
Some people think that they don’t need a flu shot because they got one within the last few years, however, older flu shots aren’t a solution to this year’s flu. Influenza is a rapidly changing infection. Scientists and health professionals put in a lot of hard work preparing a vaccine designed to treat new influenza strains each year.
Another reason why last year’s flu shot isn’t enough is that the human body’s immune response to the influenza vaccine decreases over time. As a result, your body doesn’t get the same benefits from last year’s flu shot as it did when you got the shot.
3. Flu Shots are Free or Discounted By Insurance
Another great reason to get a flu shot this year is that most insurance plans cover preventative care as required by the Affordable Care Act. In fact, any ACA compliant health care plan can’t charge you a deductible, copay or coinsurance for preventive care options like the flu shot. As a result, financial issues shouldn’t be a barrier to protecting yourself from the flu.
Even better, most insurance companies let you get a flu shot from your pharmacist or other health care professional. As a result, you won’t even need to see your doctor, with the side effects of waiting around and losing valuable time from your day just to get a shot. Most pharmacies will administer the flu shot without an appointment. That means you can just walk in and get yourself covered.
4. Protect People Around You
Influenza is extremely contagious. Getting vaccinated doesn’t only help you. It also means that there’s a smaller risk of you transmitting the flu to the people you care about. This is especially important for people that live or work around vulnerable groups, like children, the elderly, and those with certain health conditions. Even if you don’t want to get a flu shot for yourself, you should still get one for the people that matter most to you.
As you can see, there are plenty of great reasons to get a flu shot. Even if you still get the flu, the shot will help your body reduce the side effects and symptoms of the disease. As a result, there’s everything to gain and nothing to lose, so sign up to get your flu shot today!
To schedule your annual exam, reach out to our team at Horizon Primary Care!