Posted 11 June 2007 - 07:59 PM
Seasonal Influenza or "the flu" is caused by a group a viruses. Worldwide there are between 3 and 5 million cases of severe illness every year and between 300,000 and 500,000 deaths. There are about 35,000 deaths every year in the USA from influenza. The vast majority of deaths are in those over 65 years old. Infection results simply from bad luck. Exposure, followed by infection. Handwashing certainly helps, but it takes a second for virus to be transmitted from a gas pump/shopping cart/credit card receipt etc. to your finger, then your finger absent-mindedly wipes across your eye as you put your wallet away and a few days later you are home in bed with fever, aches, chills, etc.
During Pandemic years, the death rate is not only much higher (20 million died in the USA in 1918), but its younger people who are more likely to get sick. This is due to the various strains of virus.
For the average "healthy" guy like you, Mark, you are likely to be sick for around 2 to 4 weeks, with fever, aches, upper respiratory symptoms, etc. Some strains will be be pretty brutal, but after a few weeks, you'll recover. Worst case? You lose 2-3 weeks....
For someone older, or with chronic illness, the odds of death and more serious illness increase.
Many deaths occur because the flu is so debilitating that during the recovery period you are more susceptible to pneumonia. This is what gets the old folks and clears out the nursing homes...or strep/mono and other illnesses that you might normally be able to fight off.
The vaccine is safe and effective. The real downside is that the CDC detectives have to monitor the globe for patterns of outbreak and virtually at the last minute determine which strain (s) are most likely to spread. Then they inform the vaccine makers who then go out and innoculate a zillion eggs and produce the vaccine and ship. SOmetimes this doesn't always happen on a convenient schedule. A few years ago an entire batch was chucked out (we're speaking of multiple millions of doses) hence the delays, and frustration.
We live in a global environment. The more of us who get vaccinated, the fewer cases, the less the spread. Its a good and neighbourly thing to do.
Do you HAVE to get a flu shot? No, of course. Is it a good, safe thing to do? Yes.
I am a big believer in vaccines. WIthout them many of us would not be here. Polio, tetanus, Diptheria, Hepatitis, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella and smallpox. Every see a kid with small pox? Ever see someone breathing through a tube in their neck because of diptheria? Blind from childhood illness? Sterile for life from the mumps? Your grandmother die from the flu?
The benefits are real. The risks minimal.
mm