we do the flu. shot, that is.

oh, the controversy surrounding the flu shot. i do not get it. it is simple. there is this vaccination that has the ability to save the life of you, your spouse, your parents, your child. there are few side effects: muscle tenderness, injection site soreness, low grade fever, and achiness. but these are rare. those with egg allergies and certain syndromes are advised not to have the vaccine. it is recommended for everyone else over the age of six months. who makes this recommendation? oh, just some guy. who graduated at the top of his undergraduate class. at stanford. he scored in the top one percent in the nation on the mcat. he then attended johns hopkins medical school for four years. before embarking on a three to five year residency program. he decided he did not have quite enough experience under his belt, so he completed a fellowship. he is a pulmonologist. or maybe a cardiologist. or a vascular surgeon. or maybe he is JUST a pediatrician. your pediatrician. and he wanted to give back a little more. so after establishing a practice, with five other men and women with similar resumes, he took a seat on the advisory committee on immunization practices, or acip. he thinks it is a good idea to immunize against the flu. so i did. because it is a chance i am willing to take. my kids cried a little. their arms are sore. cw went to football practice four hours later. bw rode his bike. aw climbed a tree. i think they are okay. i cannot do any more than i have done. whatever happens now, i did my best.

just a few things i came across as i was perusing the cdc website at http://www.cdc.gov/flu: (1) "people with asthma are at increased risk of severe disease and complications from flu." (2) "the 2010-2011 vaccine provides protection against A/H1N1 (pandemic) influenza and two other influenza viruses – influenza A/H3N2 and influenza B." (3) the viruses in inactivated influenza vaccine have been killed, so you cannot get influenza from the vaccine. (4) a study conducted by the cdc and published in the journal of american medical association (jama) in september 2004 provided information on the number of people in the United States that are hospitalized from seasonal influenza-related complications each year. the study concluded that, on average, "more than 200,000 people in the United States are hospitalized each year for respiratory and heart conditions/illnesses associated with seasonal influenza virus infections." i have asthma. and though i have had the flu in the past, and lived to tell the tales, i will get the vaccine every year. until "those guys" tell me it is no longer necessary.