12/11/2018
So far, more than 1,200 laboratory confirmed cases of the flu are reported in Pennsylvania this season. But that's not the really alarming number that's jumping out at health officials.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health estimates as many as 2.4 million Pennsylvanians get the flu each year. Of those, up to 2,000 die from flu complications. That's plenty of reason to get a flu shot but as Eyewitness News Healthbeat Reporter Mark Hiller explains, apparently not everyone is getting the message.
As Family Medicine Physician Kwaku Boakye, MD of MedExpress Urgent Care administered a flu shot to a patient, there's growing concern. "We all saw what we went through last year," said Dr. Boakye.
One year after the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases reports more than 80,000 people died from the flu, many people have yet to get a flu shot this season.
According to a new survey, many don't plan to.
The National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago polled 1200 people nationwide. About four out of every ten (41%) said they won't get the flu vaccine this season. Why? Reasons range from fear it will make them sick (31%), or that they never get the flu or they doubt vaccine's effectiveness (31%).
Reasons, yes, but according to Dr. Boakye not very good ones starting with illness concerns. "You might get some soreness, some irritation at the site of the injection. You might have some slight body aches or even some low grade temperature. It's just your body reacting to the vaccine and it does not actually get you sick."
It's true the vaccine isn't always effective targeting the flu strain that becomes prevalent in a new season. That's because the virus can mutate making it difficult to combat. Still, Dr. Boakye says that vaccine can actually lessen the severity of the flu and even combat last season's strain. "It's still out there and you can still get exposed to it so the vaccine protects you from all those strains."
If you're among those who never gets the flu, Dr. Boakye says take last year's staggering flu statistics into consideration and don't press your luck. "No matter what you get the vaccine," he said.
It takes about two weeks for the vaccine's protective antibodies to form. Since Christmas is two weeks away, Dr. Boakye urges everyone to get their flu shot as soon as possible to help stay healthy for the holiday season and flu season.
Courtesy of PAHomePage.com. Original article can be read here.