Plenty of good reasons to get the flu vaccine
Around this time every year, we in public health, along with our health care partners, encourage people across Niagara to get the flu shot.
However, we know that not everyone chooses to get the vaccine. I would like to make the case that everyone should get it this year.
Several hundred viruses circulate in the colder months of the year causing infections including the common cold. The flu (also known as influenza) is the most serious of these infections. The Ontario government estimates that each year, an average of 1,365 people die in the province from influenza. This includes many children and elderly who have weaker immune systems.
Many, if not most, of these lives could have been saved were they vaccinated, and were all of us around them, who might spread infection to them, vaccinated as well.
This is why we advocate so strongly for everyone to get the flu shot.
We hard three major concerns around the flu vaccine.
First, that it isn’t very effective or may be poorly “matched” to the flu virus in any year. We definitely wish the vaccine was better. But even in the worst years with a bad match, the vaccine cuts the chance of getting the flu by 20 per cent, and many others experience a milder illness. Most years, the vaccine completely protects at least half of those vaccinated. Getting a one-in-five to one-in-two chance of victory for free is still very good.
A second concern is that people prefer to build their own immunity. We support building immunity, and that’s exactly what the vaccine does — it’s like a workout to prime your immune system to fight off illness. And this workout doesn’t take nearly as much time as going to the gym.
Finally, many worry about the safety of the vaccine. Like any medication, be it cough syrup, pain relief for headaches, or for something more serious, vaccines can have side effects. With the flu vaccine in Ontario in 2016 (2017 data is still being analyzed), out of 3.6 million doses given, only 120 people (O.003 per cent) had a side effect. Almost all of these (116) were mild issues like pain or redness at the point of injection. That 120 side effects in the provide compares to 1,365 deaths and over 500,000 people who were ill. That stark imbalance is why we so strongly encourage vaccination.
We are fortunate that it has never been easier to get the flu shot in Niagara, with 109 pharmacies and 153 health-care provider offices offering the vaccine, as well as public health.
We hope that this year you will make the choice to protect yourself and your loved ones by getting the flu shot.