Fight the Flu, Protect Those Around You

Photo from Healthline.com.

by Madison Pitsch

Flu season is right around the corner and college students are especially susceptible to the flu, given that they live in close quarters with so many people, may not be eating properly or be getting enough sleep.

The flu can affect even the healthiest of people if they do not try to be preventative. According to the CDC, every year in the United States 36,000 people die from the flu and 200,000 more people are hospitalized.

It is best to get a flu shot every year, since the strain of the flu varies from year to year. The human body’s immune system declines over time, so it is best to boost the immune system by backing it up annually. Receiving the flu shot cuts your chances of getting the flu by 50-60 percent. Flu-shot effectiveness depends on the person’s age and health prior to the vaccination and the similarity between the vaccine and the flu strains spreading that year.

The benefits of flu shots are impressive. Obviously, it can greatly reduce your chance of getting the flu, and hospitalization due to the flu, but it can also be a way of preventing or downplaying serious health problems for people with chronic illnesses, such as cardiovascular problems or diabetes. Hospitalizations associated with diabetes were down by 79 percent, and hospitalizations associated with chronic lung disease were down by 52 percent. Getting the flu shot will make your illness milder if you do get the flu. Finally, getting the flu vaccination not only protects you, but also the people around you. By reducing your own chances of getting sick, you reduce the chance for those around you as well, especially babies and the elderly.

Don’t be a turkey this flu season, and go get your flu shot! Concordia’s Health Center offers flu shots for $20. If you have any questions, talk to Director of Health Services Andreea Baker or Medical Director Van Vahle. Contact Baker for more information or an appointment at healthcenter@cune.edu.