Have You Gotten Your Flu Shot Yet?

Release date: January 12th, 2013
Location: New York City
Contact: Hripsime.Kaichian.264@my.csun.edu

Have You Gotten Your Flu Shot Yet?
Because It May Not Matter

On January 12^th, 2013, the New York Times published an article, written by Donald G. McNeil Jr. titled, Flu Season Death Reach Epidemic Level but May Be at Peak, C.D.C Says.

With health care at such high costs some families are opting out on flu shots, bundling up their children with thicker jackets, and hoping they can pass this season by like the last. Flu season is here and “its numbers on the death total are reporting to have crossed the “epidemic” territory” (McNeil). For those who can afford the flu shot or have insurance are still not promised one hundred percent protection from the flu, actually the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported to only be effective “50 percent to 70 percent of the time,” the flu shot is also known as only being “moderately” effective (McNeil). This flu season we suffered a greater number of loses and it is reported and confirmed through a flu test that twenty children have passed away due to conditions pertaining to the flu. While the number is significantly larger, not all children were tested for the flu, but deaths were still reported as a cause of the flu (McNeil).

Some illnesses that the flu shot has no effect on include norovirus and the whooping cough along with the common cold these diseases that are spreading in the United States are coming at a time where the flu is already hitting hard, making the winter time a difficult one for all families across the nation. Not only is there a problem of not getting the vaccines but another issue circulating right now is the problem of supply and demand. It is reported that, “the industry had made and shipped only about 130 million doses, and it is reported that in a typical year only thirty seven percent of people get vaccinated” (McNeil). Families across the nation are battling with the flu and we can see it in the results of studies being held today. Dr. Bresee even goes on to compare this year’s epidemic results to that of 2003 and 2004, where the H3N2 virus killed more Americans than normal. These types of situations and past incidents help doctors today to do a better job, catching illnesses early on and providing patients with the necessary medication or advisement. The Center of Disease and Control stated “a new vaccines offering lifelong protection against all flu strains, instead of annual partial protection against a mix-and-match set, must be created” (McNeil). Although this is obviously a great idea locals and doctors realize that no ones desires to create a magic vaccine of such are strong enough to provide the funds necessary. The cost of creating a vaccine to such extent would cost around one billion dollars, money that the government would never give up easily. The issues on the flu will always be here until the government comes together with doctors to create a plan that works with everyone, whether they don’t have insurance or just don’t care to get the vaccine, rules that enforce people to receive a vaccine need to be put into place to create a virus free environment.

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Jr., Donald G. Mcneil. "Flu Season Deaths Reach Epidemic Level but May Be at Peak, C.D.C. Says."
      The New York Times. The New York Times, 12 Jan. 2013 Web. 06 Mar. 2013.