flu vaccine

image from cdc.gov via google images

A friendly reminder to get your flu (and pertussis, or whooping cough) vaccines...

I work in population health. In every population there are people who can't be vaccinated for a number of reasons. Or, even if they get the vaccine, it's not effective because their immune system isn't functioning well.These individuals depend on those around them to create the "Community Immunity" that protects them as well as us.

image from niaid.nih.gov via google images

A healthy person might have a really bad sick week with the flu, or even just some mild symptoms for a day or two. They might not even know they have the flu (the same is true for whooping cough). But that person can pass it to someone for whom it could be fatal, such as a senior citizen with other health problems, or a newborn, or someone going through chemotherapy.

Your vaccine protects me, and my vaccine protects you.