Winter is the holiday season, full of merriment and fun, but it is also the time of year when many fall sick. Being sick is not a pleasant experience for anyone, so this year, think about getting a flu shot.
Getting a flu shot means being vaccinated against the influenza virus — the pathogen that causes the flu. Some believe that vaccines are not effective and can cause autism. However, scientific evidence has proved that to be untrue. Vaccines have also almost completely obliterated diseases such as polio, whooping cough, and smallpox. By getting a flu shot, the likelihood of getting the flu dramatically decreases.
The influenza virus is constantly mutating, however. As a result, getting a flu shot once won’t vaccinate against the next strain of the virus; scientists must work to produce a new vaccine every flu season. It’s not as easy as it seems. Due to the virus’s rapid mutations, it’s hard to predict and therefore even more difficult to manufacture a vaccine. Often, the vaccine is not 100% effective for everyone.
Don’t have qualms about getting a flu shot now though. Chances are, it just might work on you. Many places give flu shots for free as well, so you have nothing to lose. Best wishes for an illness-free year!
