To flu shot or to not flu shot

A post on the 2019-2020 flu season

It’s that time of year again – it’s flu season baby – and as of now, we’re in peak activity time. Around this time last year, the WHO was meeting for this year’s vaccine selection which we now know is a recommendation of either the IIV, RIV4, or the LAIV4 vaccine for anyone over the age of 6 months this flu season. Seeing as to where we are in the season, those who wish for a flu shot probably already received one by now. With flu vaccines offered literally almost anywhere, getting vaccinated is easier than ever. Avoiding the dreaded flu is as simple as stopping by to your local target (which you were going to do anyway let’s face it) and asking for a FREE vaccine. So why don’t more people do it?

Most people question the effectiveness of the vaccine. But listen, tracking effectiveness isn’t the easiest thing to do – considering we are in the midst of the season – so the CDC hasn’t estimated the effectiveness for this year’s vaccine as of yet. This is because effectiveness is measured in comparing the rate of illness in those who were vaccinated and those who weren’t at the end of the season. What confuses me is how people seemingly don’t make a simple cost-benefit analysis in regards to the vaccine. Even if this year’s vaccine didn’t have the greatest effectiveness, the vaccine still offers the benefits of producing antibodies guys! But also, given that the vaccine consists of 4 viruses, the odds that the vaccine protects against some, if not all, of the flu viruses of the season is in our favor.

If the effectiveness still worries you, FluView offers insight into what is happening with the current flu and is updated weekly. After checking it out for this week, the CDC has estimated around 22 million flu illnesses and 12,000 deaths in the 2019-2020 flu season. With this being said, the report states that the mortality rate has remained low and hospitalization rate constant in comparison to previous seasons. The CDC should have effectiveness estimates later in February according to FluView. Overall, flu activity is stated to be high at this time so be careful out there.