Don’t Miss Your (Flu) Shot

Older adults are at greater threat of flu issues, so it’s vital for them to get the flu vaccine yearly.

In regards to the Writer

Michele Q. Zawora, MD, FAAFP, is a household physician who works in a big city, academic-based household medication clinic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She cares for sufferers of all ages, with a give attention to geriatric medication, persistent illness administration, and preventive medication. Along with being an assistant professor within the division of household and group medication at Sidney Kimmel Medical Faculty at Thomas Jefferson College in Philadelphia, she is program director for the Doctor Assistant Research program on the college’s Middle Metropolis campus.

Influenza (the flu) is typically regarded as a gentle sickness. Nonetheless, it may be very extreme for some individuals. Specifically, adults who’re 65 years and older have the next threat of issues in the event that they get the flu. I’m a household physician who makes a speciality of caring for older adults, so I urge my sufferers to get the flu vaccine yearly. It’s one of the simplest ways for them to keep away from getting actually sick from the flu.

Sufferers might really feel uncertain about getting the flu vaccine for a lot of completely different causes. On the massive metropolis clinic the place I work, I’ve discovered that the majority sufferers are prepared to share their causes once I take the time to ask. They’re grateful that their household physician cares sufficient to know why they really feel afraid or fearful about getting a flu shot.

Throughout a latest go to, I talked with a 78-year-old affected person named Phyllis (not her actual title) concerning the significance of getting the flu vaccine. I defined that tens of 1000’s of individuals die every year from the flu. Being vaccinated decreases the danger of getting sick, needing to be hospitalized, or dying.

Phyllis instructed me that she had declined the flu vaccine in earlier years as a result of she was scared to get it. She was weighing these fears towards the worry of getting sick if she wasn’t vaccinated. Phyllis was particularly fearful about what would occur if she obtained the flu after which got here into contact with COVID-19. Would she get very sick? If she did, who would handle her?

I requested Phyllis to inform me extra about her issues. She instructed me she has a worry of needles. It stemmed from a nasty expertise she had getting a shot when she was a toddler. As well as, she mentioned that she remembered feeling dizzy after getting a vaccine up to now. Since she lives alone, she was fearful about what would occur if she obtained dizzy or had another unwanted side effects after getting the flu shot. Phyllis has hypertension and diabetes and has gotten dizzy earlier than. It made sense that she would fear about this occurring when she was at residence by herself and didn’t know who to name.

I reassured Phyllis that the flu shot is fast and never very painful. There are few unwanted side effects. They’re often delicate and solely final a short while. I let her know that the clinic has somebody on name all night time, so she may contact us if she had any unwanted side effects, similar to dizziness. I additionally defined which you could’t get the flu from the shot. Lastly, I reminded her that by getting the shot, she could be defending not simply herself, but additionally her household and group members who might not be vaccinated.

Following our dialog, Phyllis agreed to get the flu vaccine. After I went again to the examination room to test on her afterwards, she mentioned she didn’t even really feel the shot. She additionally instructed me she felt safer going residence as a result of she knew that assist was accessible if she wanted it.

If you happen to’re uncertain or fearful about getting a flu shot, speaking to your loved ones physician may help. Ask why you’re in danger for the flu and how one can defend your self and your loved ones. Ask concerning the security of the flu vaccine and potential unwanted side effects. A very powerful aim for household docs is to maintain our sufferers as wholesome as potential. We’re right here to take heed to your issues and reply your questions.

DID YOU KNOW?

In accordance with data from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), individuals from racial and ethnic minority teams usually tend to be hospitalized once they have the flu. One cause for this greater threat is that people from these teams are much less prone to get an annual flu shot. Study extra about causes for this disparity in flu vaccinations and well being outcomes.

This useful resource is supported by a Cooperative Settlement (1 NU66IP000681-01-00) from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC).

This data offers a normal overview and should not apply to everybody. Discuss to your loved ones physician to search out out if this data applies to you and to get extra data on this topic.