It’s that time of year again – fall is here! I adore watching the leaves change, enjoying pumpkin patch outings, and embracing the crisp air with cozy scarves and boots. With both my son and I celebrating our birthdays in the fall, I relish all the vibrant colors and familiar traditions that come along with it. However, with the beauty of autumn also comes a season I dread: flu season.
Flu Season: A Parent’s Dread
Flu season. Ugh. Respiratory viruses bring so much stress, and influenza is among the worst. My youngest son has asthma, which makes winter months particularly challenging. We spend the colder months obsessively washing our hands and hoping he remains healthy. To safeguard his health, our family gets flu shots every September without fail. This year was especially crucial for me since I’m pregnant; a high fever during flu season isn’t safe for a developing fetus.
Despite our best efforts, both boys started school this year, exposing them to a whole new wave of germs. Last week, my older son came home from school with a sudden high fever, leading us to the doctor for strep and flu tests. Thankfully, strep was negative, but the flu test came back positive. Ugh. My vaccinated son had the flu.
Managing the Illness
Naturally, this triggered my anxiety. I pictured a long week of discomfort ahead, worrying about my asthmatic son and the baby. I figured the flu shot hadn’t protected him against whatever strain he caught, and I braced myself for the worst. I called my OB for guidance in case I developed a fever, canceled our weekend plans, and stocked up on soup, juice, Jell-O, and popsicles.
However, things turned out much better than anticipated. My oldest son spent just one day in bed with a high fever, catching up on naps and watching Toy Story movies. He hardly ate and went to bed early. By the next day, he was back to his usual self, but my little guy started to develop a cough and fever. He was a bit whiny but still had plenty of energy.
By the following day, both boys were running low-grade fevers around 100 degrees, but their personalities and appetites were back to normal. We opted to stay home a couple more days to avoid spreading the virus, and once we were fever-free for 24 hours, we returned to our regular activities. The Jell-O and popsicles? They sat untouched in the kitchen.
The Importance of Vaccination
Surprisingly, neither my husband nor I got sick. What I thought would be the Great Influenza Scare of 2023 turned out to be just another brief illness. And this, my friends, is precisely why we never skip flu shots.
I know, I know. My kids caught the flu despite being vaccinated. Shouldn’t I be a skeptic? Absolutely not! The flu shot didn’t cause their illness. It’s a common misconception that the vaccine can lead to flu infections, but that’s simply not true. The virus in the flu shot is killed, meaning it cannot reproduce.
High vaccination rates are critical in defending against this illness that claims thousands of lives each year. Our family will always do our part. Scientific evidence shows that even if you catch the flu after vaccination, the shot can reduce the severity and duration of the illness. My kids are living proof. Even my son with asthma managed to avoid any serious complications; we never had to use the inhaler or nebulizer.
Looking Ahead
While the flu is undeniably unpleasant, and it’s disappointing that you can get vaccinated and still contract the virus, it’s essential to understand that science is striving to improve vaccine efficacy. Influenza mutates rapidly, leading to various strains, making it a challenging virus to combat. Nevertheless, getting vaccinated remains crucial. It greatly reduces your chances of being hospitalized or facing severe complications from the flu.
If you’re interested in learning more about pregnancy and home insemination, check out this excellent resource. Also, if you’re looking for more information on flu shots and their benefits, this blog post could prove insightful. As we look forward to the future, scientists are hopeful for a universal flu vaccine, but until then, annual flu shots are our best defense, and it’s not too late to get yours if you haven’t already.
Conclusion
In summary, while my kids did catch the flu this season, their vaccinated status helped them recover quickly and less severely. We will continue to prioritize flu shots for our family because the benefits are clear.