Get the Flu Shot? Weighing Pros and Cons.

According to the National Institute of Health, each year in the United States, seasonal influenza, or flu, kills more than 36,000 people and hospitalizes 200,000 more. On top of that, up to 1 in 5 Americans lose time recuperating at home, recovering from the flu.

If you are on the fence about getting a flu shot, take a moment to weigh the pros and cons.

First, the potential drawbacks of the flu shot:

• It’s a shot ‒ it might pinch a little and you could experience temporary soreness at the injection site
• There may be mild side effects for a day or two such as low-grade fever, headaches, and muscle aches
• Despite being recalibrated each year, the flu shot is typically only 40-60% effective
• The shot may take up to two weeks to begin working
  
  

On the plus side, flu shots have been proven to be safe and effective. Benefits include:

• Flu shots often prevent illness and related medical visits, hospitalizations, and deaths
• Flu shots can prevent you from spreading the illness to others
• If you get sick with flu, a flu shot can make your illness less severe, as it is shown to:

Shorten the length of a flu hospital stay
Reduce the risk of ICU admission from flu
Reduce the risk of death from flu

With the information in hand, there’s no reason to see what social media influencers think or what the Magic 8 Ball might suggest. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone six months and older get an annual flu vaccine. St. Francis-Emory Healthcare also recommends you get an annual flu vaccine ‒ we’d much rather see you for a preventive shot than laid up in our hospital with influenza.

To make an appointment for a flu shot, talk to your primary care physician, visit you local pharmacy of choice or make an appointment with a new physician today.  The St. Francis Outpatient Pharmacy, located in the Woodruff Pavilion on campus, accepts walk-ins for flu shots. Call 706-320-3078 for more information.