Many Americans Are Still Not Getting Flu Vaccines

Why are only 53 percent of Americans planning to get flu vaccines this winter, when it could save lives? Most Americans find themselves with only lame excuses, such as they would rather be sick than go to work. Getting a flu shot is really pretty easy to obtain, inexpensive or even free, and is the best way to prevent the flu.

If a simple prick of the arm or leg can prevent you and your loved ones from the flu and even death, why not get the shot? The flu affects hundreds of thousand of Americans annually and leads to around 35,000 deaths. You can get information on flu trends and where outbreaks are occuring from the Google Flu tracker. This recent Google development will help you be in the know when there is a flu outbreak in your area.

Based on the phone interview survey conducted by The Consumer Reports Health Study in October of this year, which included 2,011 Americans 18 and older, 48 percent of the United States population are not planning to be vaccinated this year. It seems their excuses are pretty lame. The top twelve excuses found during the survey were:

1.    They want to build their natural immunities (67%)
2.    They don’t get sick (45%)
3.    You or someone you know has gotten sick from the vaccine (41%)
4.    Worried about the side effects (35%)
5.    Not in the at risk group (29%)
6.    Medicine is now available for treating the flu (28%)
7.    Don’t like getting shots (27%)
8.    The shot isn’t effective (26%)
9.    Don’t like going to the Dr. (23%)
10.    To Expensive (11%)
11.    Time (16%)
12.    Rather be sick than work (5%)

Several of these excuses reported during the survey just do not seem to validate the decision to not get the flu vaccine. Flu vaccines are much easier to obtain now that pharmacists are able to administer the vaccines.  Companies are also offering flu shots at work making the vaccine more convenient. This can eliminate the cost, and help to avoid the doctor’s office as well. Those that would like to build their natural immunities might want to think twice about that with the flu, because the virus changes each year and the human body’s immunity to the flu is usually only short lived, which is why we receive annual vaccines. While we would all like to hope we won’t get sick, with hundreds of thousand getting the flu annually, not everyone can avoid the flu.

The flu shot isn’t a live virus so you can’t actually contract the virus from the vaccine, but you could have some side effects, such as soreness around the shot area, aches, or a low fever. For those that have had the flu, the small side effects seem very minimal compared to the flu itself. Even if you are not part of one of the high-risk groups for contracting the flu, someone that you are in contact with may be part of this group and if you are vaccinated, then you could help to prevent them from being infected. Though there are medicines now available to treat the flu, it seems they only cut the suffering time by a day or so. If you don’t like shots you could opt for the nasal spray or try lying down when getting the vaccine.

Several groups are at greater risk for the flu including pregnant women, children from six months to four years old, and adults over 50. As well as those suffering with asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and those who are in regular contact with infants, toddlers and the elderly. Check out this link for the advantages for pregnant women who receive the flu vaccine.

Things to keep in mind during the flu season which usually lasts from October through early May are:

• Stay home if you are sick
• Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing
• Avoid close contact with those that are sick
• Rest
• Quit Smoking
• Take approved medication and not home remedies, herbs or supplements

Don’t make excuses and get your flu shots! They aren’t expensive, if you incur a cost at all, and there are several convenient options for getting the vaccine, in addition to doctor’s offices. If you haven’t gotten your flu shot, it isn’t too late. Take the kids too. If they are afraid of the shots, you can opt for Flu Mist, a nasal flu spray.

Check out this interactive quiz to Test Your Flu Smarts.