Teachable moment? Use coronavirus scare to scare people into getting the flu shot

[stopbush]

More than 173 million doses of flu vaccine have been administered to date in 2020, much less than needed to cover the nation. During the 2018-2019 flu season, the latest with complete data available, just 45.3 percent of adults and 62.6 percent of children received flu shots, according to the CDC.

I can’t tell you how many intelligent people I know who refuse to get their yearly flu shot. The usual excuses: I never get the flu; it doesn't work; I’m not putting that shit in my body.

tRump is right: most Americans do not know that over 30,000 Americans die of the flu every year. Surely, awareness that a vaccine will eventually prevent being infected with the coronavirus can be extended to awareness of the effectiveness of the yearly flu shot.

[Aristus]

1. It doesn't do any good.

I have people come in to the clinic for the common cold. (The best thing to do for the common cold is stay home and get better, but they show up at the clinic all the time. The common cold, which doesn't kill anyone.)

Once I get them taken care of, I advise them to get their flu shot, and I still get refusals. People frantically rushing to the clinic for something that isn't deadly, and then refusing to undergo preventive treatment for an illness that can definitely kill.

I want to live on a smarter planet...

[Igel]

2. Teachable, not terrorizable.

No, the ends don't justify the means.

[OhZone]

3. If people use the don't touch / lower social intraction advice -

it could reduce all colds and flus.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. You know, flu shots aren't for everyone. I have been advised by doctors'

never to have one. I also have a letter from a CDC certified physician that exempts me from yellow fever vaccination.