Do You Need A Flu Shot?
Do You Really, Really Need A Flu Shot?
In a word, yes. As long as you claim to be human, you stand a pretty good chance of contracting the flu at one time or another. But why let that happen? Influenza can be a very serious sickness; and there’s absolutely no sense of getting it if you could have avoided it.
The flu affects hundreds of thousands of people each year, if not millions. It does not kill very many, but it certainly makes hundreds of thousands of people miserable each year. Millions of productive hours are lost each year due to the debilitating effects of the influenza strain.
If you are the main breadwinner of your family, you simply can’t afford to contract the flu — it will mean the loss of many dollars for you and your loved ones, dollars that could’ve been used to buy food. If you are a student, you can’t afford to get the flu either — it will mean the loss of many productive study hours, hours that could’ve been used to better prepare for your exams. Even if you are only a child, it is very inconvenient to get sick — you’ll miss out on a lot of playtime — time that you will never get back.
Preventing the Flu
The best way to prevent getting infected with the flu virus is to get vaccinated each year, before the flu season begins. Because the flu season is generally understood to be from November to April, it is advisable that vaccines be taken before then.
Vaccines do not take effect instantly; it takes time before the results begin to manifest themselves. Beginning in the month of September, you should seriously consider getting a flu shot. This will allow your antibodies to develop their defenses well in advance of the actual infection period.
Of course, getting a vaccine each year is not the only way to prevent the flu. Certain medications are also believed to prevent the flu, though you should consult your doctor before you take of these medicines. Overall good health habits will also go a long way to preventing a flu infection; not to mention all other types of infections.
An example of a good health habit is learning to stop the spread of germs. Whether at home, in school, or at the workplace, germs simply can do no good, so each individual should know the basics of preventing their spread.
For instance, one should make it a habit to wash with soap and water at regular times during the day, such as before eating or after using the toilet. Germs and bacteria can multiply rapidly in the human hand. After all, we use our hands to touch and hold just about everything. This means that at any given time your hands contain an aggregation of bacteria from a multitude of sources — definitely not a recipe for health.
Another obvious way to stop the spread of germs is to stay away from people who are sick. If you are sick, stay away from other people. By keeping your distance, you are lessening the chances that someone else will get what you have, or that you will get what they have.
