According to a recent The polls are racing, 22% of Americans worry about getting the Ebola virus, equaling or exceeding the number of adults worried about the 2009 high-risk virus, the H1N1 outbreak. However, every year, between 5 and 20 percent of adults get influenza. Of this percentage, 20,000 people died in the country while 500,000 died. So why do so many people fail to get a straightforward flu shot? If there is a deadly flu to consider, it is absolutely influenza, not Ebola. Yes, the thought of getting Ebola is downright scary but it should not be your biggest concern. There are many myths about the flu vaccine; the big thing is that the shot really gives you a cold afterward. The Centers for Disease Control and Protection dispelled this rumour, explaining that the flu vaccine virus had been “inactivated” or did not exist. In layman’s terms, it will not offer you a cold. If you are someone who hates needles, there’s another to nasal sprays. This year there will be 151 million to 156 million doses of vaccine available to the American public, making any excuse not to find a clinic ridiculous.
Maybe the prevalence of the flu blinds us to the real danger.
We’ve all caught the flu a dozen times in our lives and survived. What could possibly make us afraid of catching a cold if we all the time beat it? It’s hard to believe this way of thinking when statistics show that each year people are sent to the hospital with influenza. With flu season fast approaching, the first step towards a healthy rest of the year is finding out where flu shots are available and get. Second, wash your hands often, particularly after being in a public place. Stocking up on products with lots of Vitamin C will help you fight off a cold before you even get one. Also, eating lots of vegetables and fruits will help your immune system defend itself. And, most clearly and importantly, cover your mouth with your arm (not your hand) when you cough or sneeze because influenza is spread through the air. There’s nothing comforting about going to the mall and wading through a crowd full of sick people knowing full well that you are touching everything they’ve. Do yourself a favor, and stock up on hand sanitizer. There’s no need to lock yourself in, but know that germs are aplenty in any store. Taking small steps like cleaning out your shopping cart will help put your mind comfy, and in the end, your immune system will thank you.
As the biggest advocate for your own health and as a being who wants to survive, it is completely normal for a person to be afraid of disease. The Ebola virus is real and scary. The amount of media coverage tends to blow your chances of getting the disease out of proportion. Seeing it covered on every news channel made it hard to disregard. That said, the influenza virus will likely reach you before Ebola. So, be proactive about getting your flu shot this season. Paired with practicing good hygiene, you just might be capable to skip this flu season.
For more information on the flu vaccine, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/
