Flu shots are vital to avoiding sickness

The flu is going around in the Central Valley. This is one of worst years for people getting sick. The flu shot is in high demand right now, especially after the Fresno Bee published their flu article last week.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s statistics show that on New Year’s Eve roughly 3.4% of the United States population was receiving treatment for the flu virus. This exceeds the normal rate during this time which is 2.2%. Local Rite Aid doctors say the only way to ensure to not get the flu is to get the shot.

It is important to be careful for two weeks after you receive the shot because the antibodies are setting in. Do not to share drinks, or touch your eyes, nose, and mouth without washing your hands.

The flu shot immunizes you from the virus by injecting a dead form of the virus into your body so that it will form a resistance to it. However, if you get the live form in those two weeks, your body will still be building a resistance. The sickness will set in very quickly. Some people think it is the shot that makes you sick, but it is the opposite.

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In children, the full on flu has not hit yet. At Children’s Hospital, they are seeing RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) affect many children. This can lead to the flu by weakening a child’s immune system. Tom Cross, the pediatric pharmacist for Children’s Hospital, says the flu will be here in full force by the end of January.

“Right now, it’s not the flu in children,” Cross says. “RSV is what we are seeing most of, but January is the busy month for the flu. I think we will see lots of people coming in with the flu towards the end of January.”

Daniel Walker, ’17, has already received the flu this semester. He was out of school for almost a week.

“Having the flu made me feel like I got hit by a truck,” Walker said. “I wasn’t hungry, I had no energy and didn’t want to do anything. It kept me out for about a week and I was feeling the effects for almost two weeks. The flu bug is going around and you should not want the flu.”

According to experts, the best way to prevent the flu virus is to get the shot and wash your hands frequently.

To read another article check out, Foundation drives senior focus.

If you want to reach this author via email: Dawson Triplitt or on twitter @dawsontriplitt.