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The Flu Killed 80,000 People Last Year

by | Oct 1, 2018 | Volume 3, Issue 8

19406370 - a mature gentleman coughing because of pulmonary disease isolated on white background

It’s time to get your flu shot. Call today to make an appointment and ensure you’re as protected as possible during the upcoming cold and flu season.

Call: 1-800-859-0085

The flu is deadly

Last year, roughly 80,000 people “died of the flu and its complications,” according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [1] That’s about the equivalent of losing every passenger aboard 133 Boeing 747 airplanes.

Flu myths

Myth: The flu shot can give me the flu.

Fact: Wrong. You cannot get the flu from a flu shot. That’s because the vaccine is made from the killed virus or a “single gene from a flu virus (as opposed to the full virus).” [2]

That said, some people report not feeling well after getting the vaccine. Mild fever, soreness, aches, headaches, etc., can occur as your body mounts a response. But this IS NOT the flu.

Myth: I got a flu shot last season so I’m probably fine.

Fact: The flu virus changes over time. You need a flu shot every year to ensure you’re protected against newer strains of the virus.

Myth: Getting the flu is better than getting the vaccine.

Fact: As we stated above, 80,000 people last year got the flu. It’s a serious illness. A flu shot reduces the risk of developing the illness. Moreover, getting the flu shot helps protect your family, your friends, and your coworkers.

Myth: After a couple of days, I’m not contagious anymore.

Fact: You’re contagious longer than you might think. Take a look at the video below. It provides some great information in a fun and easy-to-understand way:

How bad is the flu where I live?

New York

The New York State Department of Health actually tracks flu activity in our state. [4] This may be one of those websites you want to bookmark and check frequently during the cold and flu season: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/surveillance/.

Nationwide

If you’re traveling, or want to know how bad the flu is elsewhere in the country, take a look at the Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm. [5]

 

Resources

  1. https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/408599-cdc-80000-people-died-from-flu-last-winter
  2. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/misconceptions.htm
  3. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/10/01/652140517/think-you-dont-need-a-flu-shot-here-are-5-reasons-to-change-your-mind
  4. https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/surveillance/
  5. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm