By Laura Spencer Editor-in-Chief
Thinking of skipping the flu shot this year? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “The first and most important step in preventing flu is to get a flu vaccine each year. Flu vaccine has been shown to reduce flu related illnesses and the risk of serious flu complications that can result in hospitalization or even death.” Last year the flu proved to be especially deadly. Beloved bartender Colleen Magrann Morin of Frederick had flu symptoms for over a week before being transported to Frederick Memorial Hospital (FMH) for related symptoms. Morin died at only 41 years old at FMH. “You can get very sick with the flu. You can get high fevers, a lot of body aches, and it makes you feel generally miserable.” said Teresa Cevallos, director of wellness at Hood College. “If people have any kind of underlying respiratory problems or conditions, or any kind of immunosuppressive diseases, or any kind of other illnesses, then the severity of the disease can be a lot worse; and sometimes
healthy people can die of the influenza just because of the virulency and the way that the disease takes on a person.” A fear that doctors will incorrectly predict the specific strain of the flu that will be most common in the upcoming months should not deter you from getting the shot. “Yes, the wrong strand can be in the shot,” said Lajeune Richardson, a certified nursing assistant at Shady Grove Hospital. “Just because the shot is not attacking the strand that is most popular in that year doesn’t mean that the other strands of the flu just magically disappeared. The other strands are still out there being picked up by people and spread around.” The flu vaccine is researched and updated each year because the flu viruses are constantly changing. The FDA makes the final judgment about viruses for flu vaccines to be sold in the U.S. The vaccines are typically grown inside of chicken eggs. Some influenza viruses grow poorly in eggs making it difficult to obtain candidate vaccine viruses, according to the CDC. “Having the flu shot is better than not getting the flu shot regardless of what type of strain it is. [Doctors] try to get as close as possible when they predict the strain that the flu will be so you’ll have protection against it, it’s just what degree of protection,” said Cevallos. It takes about two weeks after the vaccine is administered for the antibodies that protect against the flu to develop in the body, according to the CDC. “Prevention, prevention, prevention,” said Cevallos. “It’s the best way to stay healthy.” The reported short-term effects of the influenza vaccine should not raise any concern. “People do feel sick, or a little tired, or out of sorts [after receiving their flu shot,]” said Cevallos. “The degree of not feeling well is a lot less than getting the actual disease so if you feel a little bad after getting the shot then that’s not as bad as getting the actual disease or getting the flu.” Feeling tired and aching after receiving the flu vaccine is very common. It is a small price to pay to stay protected for the rest of the flu season. “It helps you for yourself but it also helps from passing the organism and the disease onto anyone else,” said Cevallos. “It controls not only keeping yourself healthy, but also keeping your community healthy.” When spreading the flu is in question, people who are in good health would need to be aware that they could spread the flu to someone who cannot fight off the virus very well. Extra preventative measures are advised during flu season. Washing your hands, carrying an alcohol-based hand sanitizer for times when you cannot get to a sink, and using disinfectant wipes on surfaces that you touch are a few steps that WebMD recommends to avoid contact with flu germs. “I have personally seen many sick children whose parents always regret not getting them vaccinated from the flu when they have to miss work and stay with their child in the hospital,” said Richardson. The Associated Press reported that flu cases have been confirmed in every county in Delaware as of mid-Sept, and one person has been hospitalized. The CDC recommends that people get their influenza vaccine by the end of October. This allows enough time to ensure that people are protected against the flu before the typical peak-season time for the flu. “Children go back to school at this time and many sicknesses spread including the flu,” said Richardson. “So vaccinating your child around this time can increase their chances of not catching the flu from their classmates.” Cevallos recommends the new health services location to students at Hood College. The new facility is a partnership between Hood College and Frederick Regional Health System (FRHS), it is located at 501 W 7th St. in Frederick, M.d. “[FRHS] accepts most insurances but not all of them,” said Cevallos. “If students do not have insurance, or if their insurance is not accepted, the price of the shot is 23 dollars.” Students can walk into the FRHS facility any time to get the flu vaccine. “There are people who don’t get vaccinated and don’t get sick, but there are also people who don’t get vaccinated and end up getting really sick,” said Richardson. “So ultimately it depends on how safe and protected you want yourself and your children to be.”
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