Screw the Flu: 4 Reasons to Get Vaccinated

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Screw the Flu: 4 Reasons to Get Vaccinated

Want to stop the spread of flu? Get vaccinated.

Did you know that the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the PHAC (Public Health Agency of Canada) now recommend the flu vaccine for everyone over 6 months of age?

That means you.

The flu vaccine is safe, even for pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses. And no, you can’t get the flu from your flu shot.

Here are 4 reasons why you should get your flu shot this year, and do your part to Screw the Flu.

It’s ridiculously easy. It takes about 5 minutes, and you can get it at drug stores or at flu vaccine clinics at your doctors’ office or sometimes even at work

It’s incredibly safe. The most common reaction to a flu shot is a sore arm. That’s it. Other reactions are extremely rare and MUCH less common than all the bad things that can happen to you if you actually get the flu.

You will protect yourself from the flu. You are less likely to get the flu, and if you do get the flu, are less likely to get really sick. That means less days at home in bed and more vacation days to sit on the couch or plan a winter escape.

You will protect other people, too. If you get the flu shot, you are less likely to pass the virus on to children, older people, and other people who can get REALLY sick or even die from the flu.

Check out this Screw the Flu video from Bellyblog.ca’s own Media Producer, Dr. Seema Marwaha, along with her op-ed piece on Healthy Debate about the recent ruling striking down the “vaccinate-or-mask” policy for nurses.

Get the flu vaccine soon. Flu season is just around the corner. Make sure to protect yourself and the people who you love!

About the author

Robyn Scatena, MD

Dr. Robyn Scatena is a pulmonary and critical care doctor at Norwalk Hospital in Connecticut. She went to medical school at UC Davis and completed her medical residency and fellowship at Yale University. She is the director of critical care services at Norwalk Hospital and cares for patients with lung cancer and other lung diseases. She is a member of the medical faculty at Yale University School of Medicine and the University of Vermont College of Medicine. For appointments with Dr. Scatena, call her office at 203-852-2392. See all of Robyn's articles.