The Flu Shot is in Need Of More Stories and Lesser Statistics

It was only two weeks back when the CDC came up with a disclosure. They disclosed that an increased number of Americans had got killed by the flu in the year 2017 than at any point in time in 40 years. The figure totaled in excess of 79000. Hence the number of people who had to get hospitalized due to these illnesses hit record high levels. One particular reason was pinpointed by the CDC for the high rate of death. They said that the number of people, who received flu shots, was very low. Just about 37 percent of adults received the vaccine, the lowest ever rate in 8 years.

This is a mystery as to why the flu vaccines do not find more number of customers, especially when the disease is extremely demanding on one’s body. There is a possibility that the willingness of people to get vaccinated was suppressed because of the reports that the vaccine for the 2017-18 seasons was not at all an effective one. It only managed to prevent the illness on 10 percent of the occasions in the summer flu season of Southern Hemisphere. In the first instance, this kind of response makes sense. Still, the effectiveness of the flu vaccine is far more complex. Those who get a flu shot may still have flu infection but the vaccine will make them less probable towards experiencing grueling symptoms.

There are a number of studies, which show that people who receive flu vaccine are less prone to fall seriously ill. The risk of hospitalization falls by 37 percent. Pregnant women are at least 40 percent less likely to get hospitalized for symptoms related to flu. The Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health and President of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officers, Nicole Alexander-Scott had a different view on this. She said that they look to avoid considering the percentages as well as the effectiveness and rather look into the emotional aspect of what people really want for themselves. She said that they try to focus on personal stories about patients; hence things become real and not at all abstract.