2008 Woodie Awards
Flu shots: Right for everyone? Not a shot.
Fenan Solomon
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: Opinion
With winter approaching, there's a lot to look forward to, particularly the much-needed and well deserved winter break as well as the holidays. Now imagine trying to enjoy them with the flu. Between the incessant public service announcements and people coughing all around you, you might seriously consider receiving a flu shot this winter, but research shows you'll be just fine without one.
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is a virus that attacks your body by spreading through your upper and/or lower respiratory tract. The virus spreads pretty easily. In addition to the usual "don't share saliva, drinks and utensils" mantra, strains of the virus are found in air particles. That's part of the reason why people who are in constant close quarters - such as in military barracks, daycare facilities and dormitories - are at higher risk than most. But the fact still remains that the flu disproportionately affects three groups: children, the elderly and those with weak immune systems.
If you are considering the vaccine, consider these facts beforehand. First of all, if you are already sick, find out if you have a cold or the flu. The two have many similarities, but symptoms such as vomiting, fevers and loss of appetite can help distinguish the two. If you do have the flu, you will have to wait it out, because you are not advised to get the shot while ill.
Second, receiving the shot does not guarantee complete immunity. Vaccines are made from dead strains of the virus. As time goes on, viruses, like other living organisms, evolve. The flu has strains out there that researchers haven't even discovered, let alone named and alerted the public of.
Third, the virus is incubated in eggs, so if you are allergic to eggs or chicken protein, avoid the shot entirely. It also contains mercury, so while some sources advise pregnant women to get it for the well-being of the child, others argue against it, as mercury has been proven to have detrimental effects on infant births.
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is a virus that attacks your body by spreading through your upper and/or lower respiratory tract. The virus spreads pretty easily. In addition to the usual "don't share saliva, drinks and utensils" mantra, strains of the virus are found in air particles. That's part of the reason why people who are in constant close quarters - such as in military barracks, daycare facilities and dormitories - are at higher risk than most. But the fact still remains that the flu disproportionately affects three groups: children, the elderly and those with weak immune systems.
If you are considering the vaccine, consider these facts beforehand. First of all, if you are already sick, find out if you have a cold or the flu. The two have many similarities, but symptoms such as vomiting, fevers and loss of appetite can help distinguish the two. If you do have the flu, you will have to wait it out, because you are not advised to get the shot while ill.
Second, receiving the shot does not guarantee complete immunity. Vaccines are made from dead strains of the virus. As time goes on, viruses, like other living organisms, evolve. The flu has strains out there that researchers haven't even discovered, let alone named and alerted the public of.
Third, the virus is incubated in eggs, so if you are allergic to eggs or chicken protein, avoid the shot entirely. It also contains mercury, so while some sources advise pregnant women to get it for the well-being of the child, others argue against it, as mercury has been proven to have detrimental effects on infant births.
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