‘Stated bluntly: No matter how good a vaccine is, it’s not worth much if people don’t actually get vaccinated.’
I’ve had a lot of conversations with people questioning the value of a vaccine that isn’t 100% effective. This article from the Globe and Mail yesterday is a quick read that explains a little about the history of our understanding of influenza and the advances we’ve made in protecting people from it in a relatively short period of time.
I hear you – it’s hard to sign up for something every year that we know isn’t a guarantee to keep us safe. But even in years when the match isn’t as good as we would hope, it still offers protection against three or four strains of influenza (depending on whether you receive the trivalent or quadrivalent), and if your body doesn’t develop the immunity you are less likely to experience the more severe effects of the virus.
Jude didn’t develop immunity. Jude’s body wasn’t able to overcome the virus. But a lot of people were protected by the exact same shot last year, and there are people who are here who wouldn’t have been otherwise. It isn’t perfect, but it is saving lives.
That bears repeating: It isn’t perfect, but *it is saving lives*.
People die from the flu, but you can help reduce those statistics.
Read up on how the vaccine has improved through the years, and consider getting your shot to protect the more vulnerable in your community. You could save someone’s life this year.