Influenza, most commonly known as the flu, is a potentially serious disease. According to reports released by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) over 80,000 Americans died of the flu in the winter of 2017-2018 which is the highest number of flu-related deaths in over a decade. For individuals on the fence about getting vaccinated this flu season, I urge you to get the facts, not the flu!
What is the flu?
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness that is caused by viruses that
Savanha M. Rodriguez
infect various areas of the human body, including the throat, lungs, and nose. Symptoms include Aching muscles, fatigue, nasal congestion, sore throat, a fever over 100.4 F, chills and sweats. Although sometimes mild, the infection can become severe and can lead to hospitalization and even death in individuals with compromised immune systems. It is these instances for which it is so critical that individuals get vaccinated.
How do vaccines work?
Vaccines are made from the same germs of the disease that they protect your body from. For example, a polio vaccine is made from the poliovirus, but the germs in the vaccine are either inactivated (killed) or weakened, making it impossible to get you sick. However, with your exposure to these germs, it alerts your body of their presence and ultimately causes your immune system to release antibodies. The generation of antibodies kills off the disease germs and they themselves stay in your body to give you immunity for the next time you are exposed to the virus.
What if the flu shot wasn’t very effective last time I got it?
Infectious disease specialists must make vaccines 6 months prior to the beginning of the flu season, therefore, they must choose the strain the vaccine will fight against in February for the following year. During this 6-month period, it is possible that the flu virus can mutate and cause the strain to change. Regardless, there are still benefits to getting an imperfect vaccine, because even though it might not be 100% effective at preventing your sore throat it can be very effective at preventing more serious symptoms and maybe even death.
I get sick after getting the flu shot, what’s the point?
There is no scientific evidence that suggests that this is true. Flu vaccines allow your body to produce the antibodies necessary to fight off the infection but do not give you the infection directly. This is because the virus in the vaccine has been inactivated and cannot cause an actual illness. There are however a few side effects that have been recorded to occur when getting the vaccine. Side effects include soreness and redness at the site where the shot was administered, low-grade fevers, headaches, and muscle aches. These are reactions from your body to the foreign material your body has been exposed to, but it does not correlate with actually “getting sick.”
Where can I get vaccinated?
Vandal Health Education hosts various flu shot clinics throughout the flu season right on the University of Idaho campus. Below you will find a schedule of the remaining flu shot clinic events that you can attend. Influenza vaccines are free for students, just be prepared to show your Vandal Card when registering at the event! Additionally, there are meningococcal vaccines available on a first come, first served basis.
Tuesday, October 30th from 5 – 7 p.m.
Student Health Building – Main Campus
Wednesday, October 31st from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
TLC 143 – Teaching & Learning Center – Main Campus
I urge you all to help keep our campus community healthy this flu season by getting your flu shot — and as always, go Vandals!
Savanha M. Rodriguez, Vandal Health Peer Educator