All I Want for Christmas is Flu (Shot)

This holiday season, more than ever before, has a certain kind of magic about it as we finally can see our loved ones due to the production of the Covid-19 vaccine making it so 'returning to normal' is just a little safer. However, the vaccine has become a topic of heated debate across American politics and has taken the spotlight from one of the most important vaccines of the last century. The Influenza vaccine or flu shot, an ever-developing yearly dose of inactive influenza, is being swept under the metaphorical rug of the Covid-19 vaccine. The flu shot is responsible for preventing 7.5 million cases of the flu yearly while saving about twenty lives per day each year, as estimated by Healthline. When visiting family this year, Covid may be at the forefront of many individuals' minds while the flu is forgotten.

Having contracted Influenza A on New Year’s Eve 2020, I can account for the horrors of the virus first-hand. Thankfully, I received my flu shot at the recommended mid-October date and was able to stay out of the hospital when I became ill. However, without the vaccine, it is likely that I would have had to be hospitalized as it is predicted that thousands more Americans than usual will be this year. If you have not yet received your flu shot, fear not! Receiving the vaccine or the alternative nasal spray FluMist late is better than never due to flu season commonly lasting until the spring in the United States. If you are receiving a booster shot for Covid-19 make sure that you receive your flu shot the recommended two weeks afterward so there is no interference. Otherwise, remember that if you become ill and have a negative result on a Covid-19 test, you should get tested for influenza as well and stay home from school or work in order to ensure the health of your friends.