Copyright People’s Pharmacy

Q: I am healthy, on no medications, work out at least three times per week and have always been very careful about washing hands, etc.  I seem to have a strong immune system, as I get over colds quickly.  I haven’t gotten the flu shot in many years.  Also, I have never gotten the flu, but I may just be lucky. My husband gets the shot every year and has not had the flu either.  Now I am feeling pressured to get vaccinated for flu this year because of COVID-19.  Although I’m uncomfortable with the idea, should I get a flu shot? Is it safest to go to the doctor, where a nurse would give it properly?  And would this make it less likely to damage my arm?  Did Australia really have fewer regular flu cases this year?  While I am not an anti-vaccine person, I do feel that Big Pharma pushes meds on people when they are not needed.

A: Public health authorities are encouraging everyone to get an influenza vaccination this year because of COVID-19.  They hope this will keep hospitals from being overwhelmed.  In addition, they don’t want patients to suffer from two dangerous respiratory infections at the same time.  It is true that Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other Southern Hemisphere countries had a light flu season because people were taking precautions against the pandemic.  We cant predict what the flu season will be like in the U.S. this year, though.  We do think a flu shot would be prudent.  Generally speaking, nurses are very well trained in how to administer vaccinations.  We have, though, received many complaints about shoulder and arm pain from ineptly giving shots.