Is the Flu Shot Effective?

When you get a vaccine, you'd think that the disease you've been immunized against won't bother you. If you think that about the flu vaccine, you've got about a sixty percent chance that you're right. The other forty percent aren't as protected as they could be, and nobody knows for sure which is which.

This information comes from a new study done by researchers at the University of Minnesota. The original thoughts were that the vaccine would be effective in a minimum of seventy percent of the people who take it. That still leaves a lot of people thinking they're safe.

The researchers are now proposing that we've settled into complacency with the current methods of developing the vaccine. As fast as the virus multiplies, that's not a good thing. The researchers suggest that it's time to branch out and look for other ways of creating a better, more accurate flu shot.

In the mean time, we have to figure out how to protect ourselves and our family. No one, including me, is suggesting that the vaccine be avoided. A sixty percent chance of protection is still far better than a zero percent chance. However, that does make taking every precaution possible a necessity. These steps should be kept in mind…and practiced:

• 1) Wash your hands frequently: Good old soap and hot water is an effective means of preventing most illnesses. You don't even need antibacterial soap.
• 2) Don't touch your face: The most common vector for spreading the flu and other illnesses is by touching your mouth, ears, nose and eyes after you've touched something contaminated.
• 3) Proper use of antibacterial products: There are times when hand washing is impossible, or you'll need to touch something very public. In these limited cases, antibacterial wipes and gel may be useful. Keep in mind that overuse of these products can weaken your immune system.
• 4) Cover your mouth with your elbow: Your hands touch too many things to make that a practical means of not spreading illness. Your elbow, however, does not. It looks dorky, but it's better than spreading the joy.
• 5) Don't go out sick: Please, stay home. Whether you got the shot and it didn't help or you didn't get it at all, stay home. You may give it to someone else, and that could be deadly.

This article is not meant to encourage flu shot avoidance. It is meant to put our current process into perspective and encourage new ideas about developing vaccines. If you have any concerns about the shot, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.