Vaccination Vacillation

It’s as traditional as the holiday season:  just as the wreaths are hung and holiday lights are strung, the annual “flu-shot fence-splitting” begins.  For far too many Americans, the nagging question is:  “Should I or shouldn’t I get a flu shot?”

Every individual case is different, and your doctor or nurse practitioner is your best source of guidance, but a few facts bear repeating:

·         Everyone is vulnerable to the flu.  Many of us think if we aren’t in hospital-settings or around young children, we are not at risk.  But caregivers might be especially vulnerable because we neglect our health generally (too little sleep, poor diets) and ignore warning signs specifically. 

·         60 million Americans had contracted H1N1 by March 2010; 270,000 of them were hospitalized, and 12,270 died from H1N1-related complications, the Center for Disease Control reports.

·         Despite all the attention the flu (particularly H1N1) has received in recent years, Americans still report lagging numbers in getting the flu vaccine.  Only 32% of American adults surveyed by Rand Corporation at this time last year had been vaccinated for the flu.   Many Americans fear the side-effects of the flu more than the flu itself, despite well-documented evidence that side-effects are rare and mild (and  include soreness, redness, or swelling at the site of the shot;  some may experience headache, muscle aches, fever, or nausea).

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends a flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older.    The US Government will make available more than 155 million doses of the flu vaccine this winter, and most states have already received shipments.  Most local drug store chains offer the vaccine, usually at less than $30.  Starting this year, adults need to receive only one flu vaccine a year (unlike years past when there was a separate H1N1 vaccine).  A new high-strength vaccine, Fluzone High-Dose, is available to those 65 years and older, who typically have weaker immune systems.

If you are on the fence about the flu vaccine, this is a good time to consult your physician or your pharmacist, and research your options (check out www.cdc.gov).  If you are a family caregiver in the throes of “vaccination vacillation,” consider this:  if H1N1 or seasonal flu puts you out of commission, you could well become more of a risk than a help to your loved one.