October Newsletter 2022
Teri Ann Cox
Executive Director of The Children’s Center
Dear Center Families,
During the past flu seasons of 2017-2020, the CDC estimates that influenza killed about 36,000-45,000 people. For the 2020-2021 season, there were “only” about 14,000 deaths. To put these numbers into perspective, the TD Garden capacity is 17,565.
Experts believe the most recent year’s numbers were down because many of us were still isolating, and masking in public was the norm. Given flu activity begins to increase in October, Covid-19 continues to circulate, and masking is no longer prevalently in use, the CDC, DHHS, American Academy of Pediatrics, and State Epidemiologists are all highly recommending everyone 6-months and older who do not have a medical reason that would prevent them from doing so, to seek out the flu vaccination. Vaccines remain the best way to prevent illness and keep kids in classrooms. https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2022/american-academy-of-pediatrics-urges-families-to-get-children-vaccinated-for-influenza-to-prevent-and-control-illness-in-2022-23/
Frequently asked questions about the flu vaccination include:
-How does the flu vaccination work?
The flu shot causes your body to develop antibodies that fight against influenza viruses. It can take about 2 weeks after immunization to be protected. If you develop the flu around the time you got the vaccine, it’s because you were exposed prior to getting the shot and were not protected at the time you got infected.
-Does the flu shot cause the flu?
No. Flu vaccinations CANNOT cause the flu. The flu viruses in the vaccine are inactivated, thus cannot be infectious. You may experience side effects including low-grade fever, body aches, headache, and an overall feeling of malaise as your body’s normal immune system responds to the inactivated virus in the vaccine. These symptoms are much less severe than the influenza virus.
-Is it better to get the flu than the flu vaccine?
No. The flu has the potential to be a very complicated disease process, particularly to young children, older adults, and anyone with chronic health conditions. When the vaccine is a good match with what flu strains are circulating, the vaccine can reduce risk of contraction up to 60%. And even when the match is not great, being vaccinated before you get the flu can help you avoid having a severe case (much like is the case with the COVID-19 vaccination that significantly decreases severe disease and hospitalization). The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is an additional important factor since a person can acquire it and the flu at the same time. Getting the flu shot (and the COVID-19 vaccines and boosters) will help to decrease the dangers for everyone and help prevent over-burdening our health system and hospitals.
-When should I get the flu shot?
The CDC recommends vaccination by the end of October.
For more information about why the flu vaccine is more important than ever, please see https://www.rutgers.edu/news/why-flu-vaccine-more-important-ever-year.
I hope you will join me and my family, and plan to get your flu shots in the month ahead!
All the best, Teri Ann
