The Flu Shot Debate

I’m sure that you’ve heard this debate many times:

“Why should I get the flu shot? Half of the time they don’t even get it right.”

“It’s not natural to vaccinate."

“You know, it probably won’t work, and it will probably make you sick too."

As caregivers and COPD sufferers, you will hear this every year, and sometimes it will be from those closest to you. There may even be a moment, while your friends or family are questioning getting that flu shot, that you wonder if they truly love you. I mean, wouldn’t they want to do whatever is necessary to keep the flu far away from someone with COPD?

Understanding the concerns around vaccines

This is where you need to think beyond your initial reaction and think through their concerns. While public debate often centers on the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism, extensive scientific research has conclusively disproven any link between the two. However, the vast majority of doctors adamantly speak to the fact that the studies have not shown this kind of correlation. The cases of autism are related to small children, but in the mind of many people it causes questions about all vaccines. There have also been a few years that the flu shot itself was not the ideal vaccine for the particular strain of the flu that was spreading. The result was many people that received the flu shot ended up sick anyway.

While these worries are common, they do not carry equal scientific weight when compared to the lifesaving benefits of immunization. Here is where things change. It is the conversation that visits the thoughts of dying from a treatable illness. There is a reason that the first people to be vaccinated are the sick (particularly those with acute illnesses), the elderly, and infants. It is because their immune systems are not running at full capacity to fight off a round of the flu. Think about how sick you (normally healthy) can get from the flu. Now take how you felt with the flu, then double or triple it. I imagine that you would not want to entertain the thoughts of just how difficult that would be.

It is true that sometimes the vaccine is not ideal for the particular strain of the flu for that given year, but wouldn’t it be better to take a chance on getting it right than to opt out of taking it altogether? You won’t be shielded at all by a vaccine that you never take.

Why herd immunity matters for COPD patients

When the conversation comes up with family or friends who are with the COPD sufferer often, it is important to make sure that they understand that taking the flu shot for themselves is great to help keep them healthy, but more importantly, it is another layer of protection. If you, as a caregiver, family member, or friend, don't develop the flu because you got the flu shot, you lower the chance of the COPD patient being exposed.

Overall, try not to let someone’s decision to decline a flu shot change your feelings for them. It is a personal choice, and as long as that person isn't around every day, you can take other precautions. Practicing thorough handwashing and avoiding touching your face are vital hygiene habits to maintain, regardless of vaccination status. Just doing those two things can greatly increase your chances of avoiding the flu during any given season, and isn’t that the goal here? The healthier you all stay, the greater the chance of a hospital-free year for your loved one with COPD.