Give Me Your Best Shot
“At Student Health, we have seen well over double the number of flu cases last year (winter 2008) as compared to the same time periods in the past five winters.” Dr. Elizabeth Downing, Director of UCSB’s Student Health.
November marks the start of flu season. Influenza (flu) is a serious disease of the nose, throat and lungs that can lead to pneumonia. Every year about 200,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized. But even if you are not hospitalized, the flu can mess up your ability to study, socialize, go to class, work and simply feel good.
I don’t like shots. But I get a flu shot every year because it is the MOST effective way to protect myself from the flu. Repeat: a flu shot is the MOST effective way to protect yourself from the flu.
There are a lot of myths about the flu shot. Here are three that just aren’t true:
Myth #1: The flu shot causes the flu in some people.
Truth: No. It’s impossible to get the flu from a flu shot. Injected flu vaccines only contain dead virus. It’s dead, people. A dead virus can’t infect you.
Myth #2: If you are young and healthy, you don’t need to get a flu shot.
Truth: Healthy young people get the flu. Why suffer if you can avoid it? And, if you fail to get yourself vaccinated and get the flu, you can spread it to others. You are being a good citizen, protecting those less healthy than you, by getting vaccinated.
Myth #3: If you had the flu this season, you can’t catch it again.
Truth: The flu is not one single virus. Usually there are two main flu viruses infecting people during a season. You might unlucky and get the flu more than once. A flu shot will decrease your chances of that happening.
Student Health is offering Flu Vaccinations ($15 for students/ $20 for staff: BARC, Check, Cash) at the following places:
Location 1: Student Health Classroom 2 – Oct. 28th - Dec. 10th
Days/times: Every Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.
Every Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location 2: Ortega Dinning Commons
Day/time: Wednesday, Nov. 5th, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Location 3: De La Guerra Dinning Commons
Day/time: Wednesday, Nov. 5th, 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
“While there is absolutely no scientific basis for the use of supplements such as Echinacea or Airborne, the following measures are known to help prevent cases of influenza: cough into your elbow/sleeve, wash hands often, get adequate amounts of sleep and avoid sharing drinks and indiscriminate lips. Smoking any substance always decreases immunity to respiratory germs and also prolongs these illnesses. If you’re a smoker, consider checking out our free smoking cessation program.” Dr. Downing
The difference between a cold and the flu.
Wellness tip of the week: Write down three things that made you happy each day. Also write down what caused those things to happen. Do this every day for a week. People report being happier after doing this.
Michael Takahara is a health educator at Student Health. Post comments, suggestions, questions or your wellness tips here or email Michael.takahara@sa.ucsb.edu.
4 Responses to “Give Me Your Best Shot”
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After seeing what went around last year – I will get my flu shot this year ASAP. Why suffer when you don’t need to!
Flu shots aren’t sexy, but they are slightly more sexy than the fever (often as high as 103), the body aches, and a painful cough, sometimes heralded by a burning feeling in the chest, weakness, and lingering cough associated with the flu!
Cheers!
Maka-
How come I always DO get sick when I get the flu shot? It may not be the flu, but I’m out of commission for a few days following the vaccination.
Hello Question,
I didn’t know the answer to your question. So I ask Dr. Mary Ferris, Medical Director at Student Health to answer it. Here’s what Dr. Ferris said,
“Yes, you may feel temporarily ill after any vaccination, because the purpose of the shot is to trigger an immune response in your body. When you feel sick after a shot, it means the substance (usually just a fragment of a bacteria or virus) was recognized as a threat and it triggered your body’s defenses, which may even be a fever, soreness at the injection site, and body aches for a short period. Then when your body encounters that germ in the future, it’s primed to quickly activate immune defenses and clear the threat.
There’s also a random chance that you contracted another respiratory infection coincidentally at the same time as your shot. Flu shots are given during the peak time for colds and sore throats of all types, so often people will tell you “I got a respiratory infection from the shot.” However, we know that is impossible because the flu shot only contains sterilized fragments of the inactivated flu virus, and no live material at all. Large research studies have confirmed that there is no statistically significant association of infectious illness with receipt of flu shots.
If you are prone to getting reactions from shots, it’s a good idea to take a dose Tylenol or Advil when you get the shot to block some of these effects. If you have concerns after a shot that you may be having an unusual reaction, be sure to contact your health care provider with your questions. At UCSB you can call or email the Advice Nurse through the Student Health website.”
Thank you again for your question, Question. It was a good oneand I’m sure others wanted to know the answer as well. I appreciate your readership and willingness to ask.
The Advice Nurse is available at Student Health 8 – 4:30, Monday – Friday. You may contact her by phone by calling 893-7129. Or on-line starting here: http://studenthealth.sa.ucsb.edu/ClinicalServices/NurseAdvisor.asp
Peace, maka