September 8, 2025 • 33 mins
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The flu vaccine is our best defense against influenza, a contagious respiratory virus that causes millions of illnesses and thousands of deaths in the US each year. Despite being only 40-60% effective, the vaccine significantly reduces hospitalizations, outpatient visits, and deaths while protecting vulnerable populations who cannot be vaccinated.
• Influenza causes 9-41 million illnesses, 140,000-960,000 hospitalizations, and 12,000-80,000 deaths annually in the US
• Everyone aged six months and older should receive the flu vaccine yearly
• The vaccine must be updated annually because the flu virus changes each year
• Getting vaccinated helps protect vulnerable populations like infants and immunocompromised individuals
• Common misconception that the vaccine causes flu is false – it cannot give you the flu
• Only 40-46% of Americans get the flu vaccine annually despite its proven benefits
• The best time to get vaccinated is before flu season begins, but getting it later still helps
• Flu vaccination reduces strain on hospitals during peak seasons
Go get your flu shot today! It's the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your neighbors
References
- Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza With Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices - United States, 2022-23 Influenza Season. Grohskopf LA, Blanton LH, Ferdinands JM, et al. MMWR. Recommendations and Reports : Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Recommendations and Reports. 2022;71(1):1-28. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7101a1. Copyright License: CC0.
- Clinical Practice Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America: 2018 Update on Diagnosis, Treatment, Chemoprophylaxis, and Institutional Outbreak Management of Seasonal Influenzaa. Uyeki TM, Bernstein HH, Bradley JS, et al. Clinical Infectious Diseases : An Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. 2019;68(6):e1-e47. doi:10.1093/cid/ciy866.
- Influenza Vaccination. Treanor JJ. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2016;375(13):1261-8. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1512870.
- Effects of Influenza Vaccination in the United States During the 2017-2018 Influenza Season. Rolfes MA, Flannery B, Chung JR, et al. Clinical Infectious Diseases : An Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. 2019;69(11):1845-1853. doi:10.1093/cid/ciz075.
- Vaccines for Preventing Influenza in Healthy Adults. Demicheli V, Jefferson T, Ferroni E, Rivetti A, Di Pietrantonj C. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2018;2:CD001269. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001269.pub6.
- Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2022-2023. Pediatrics. 2022;150(4):e2022059275. doi:10.1542/peds.2022-059275.
- Influenza. Uyeki TM. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2021;174(11):ITC161-ITC176. doi:10.7326/AITC202111160.
Production and Content: Edward Delesky, MD & Nicole Aruffo, RN
Artwork: Olivia Pawlowski
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hi, welcome to your checkup.
We are the patient educationpodcast, where we bring
conversations from the doctor'soffice to your ears.
On this podcast, we try tobring medicine closer to its
patients.
I'm Ed Dolesky, a familymedicine doctor in the
Philadelphia area, and I'mNicole Rufo.
I'm a nurse, and we are soexcited you were able to join us
(00:24):
here again today.
Big week this week, not a weekof leisure, no, no, leisure time
is over.
Leisure time is over.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Someone went to work this week.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Yeah, just because when I was doing my interview
with them they were like yeah,don't talk about it too much, I
mean not in so many words we'renot going to name.
No, we're not going to namewhere I am.
Of course someone could look itup, but like, we're not going
to name where.
But I loved every bit of it, soI am incredibly excited and I'm
so happy is really what Iwanted to say.
(01:01):
Um, it's busy.
I love the opportunity to getto meet new people.
I tossed out the podcast, uh,the business card every once in
a while and I am just, I'mthrilled I'm over the moon.
It's such a fun thing.
I know, every day is not goingto be easy, but it was a blast.
Um, and other news we've beenexcommunicated from our house
(01:25):
because our entire HVAC systemblew out.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Oh my God, so aggravating.
Allegedly getting fixed laterthis week, though, so we'll see
if that happens.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Yeah, no, giant perk of renting.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Not a problem, except it is our problem when we're
too hot and can't sleep.
No, and like little boys getreally hot little boys get
really hot yeah, too hot, um,but you know, sleeping with the
windows open it is loud yeah,our like street itself is quiet,
(01:58):
but then people, people are notsometimes in like the middle of
the night if they're likewalking home from a bar or
something yeah, I'm prettysusceptible to that.
I think you sleep through a lotof that stuff I know, which is
shocking, because I'm such alight sleeper you are.
(02:19):
I could get up in the middle ofthe night and you hear his
little like oh my god, I hearollie move and I'm like, oh,
who's that is he throwing up?
Speaker 1 (02:28):
have we yeah, have I, like you know, explained this
like this scene where, like youcould be dead asleep you hear,
and you're on the if you're likelaying in the bed, you're on
the right side, you grab thecorner, like kind of like taking
off the screen protector of athing, but like you grab the
corner, you, as if it's a cape,fling the blanket and comforter
(02:53):
off and in one fell swoop, whilethat's coming out, you are
already two feet on the groundwith a towel in hand, somehow
Tossing it under this man ashe's getting ready to puke.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Yeah, it's a mother's instinct.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
It's fantastic.
And then all the while I'm juststirring, waking up, being like
what's happening.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
And then Eddie's like ugh.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Yeah, it's a really fantastic thing.
You're so agile in thesemoments and you are in other
times too, I guess but you know,this is just maybe the most
impressive one.
Um, let's see, have we?
Have we eaten anythinginteresting?
Speaker 2 (03:36):
um, have we?
I feel like we, we gotta, weneed, we need to like figure out
our new routine with your likenew work schedule.
So I feel like we just had likegirl dinner every night.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yeah, that was something.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Although I did come home for lunch the other day and
you had like a whole steak made.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
That was funny.
Tell us about what happenedfrom your perspective.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
When I came home for lunch.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Well, we had planned I knew my day was going to be a
little lighter and I can walkhome in like 10 minutes, so I
can like walk home, have lunch,come back.
And we had planned that I wouldcome home that day because
Eddie had some admin time, so hewas going to be at the house.
I would come home that daybecause Eddie had some admin
time, so he was going to be atthe house.
(04:27):
And then I texted you, probablylike less than an hour before,
like I had planned to come back,something that like there
better be a steak on the tablewaiting for me when I got home.
Like joking.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Right, I could sense there was a joke.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
And then I came home and there was a steak on the
table for me.
It was great, and brusselssprouts and brussels sprouts.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
It's delicious, the best lunch yeah, I really leaned
into that bit I I wanted to doanything more than sit through
more of those onboarding videos.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Yeah, they're always rough.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
So I ran to the store and got the meat and cooked it
up real quick.
It actually came out reallygood.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Yeah, it was delicious for what you claim to
be like a rush job.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
It was a rush job, it was.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
It wasn't a very exciting week because you were
just working.
We were like getting used toand figuring out everything.
Our house is hot because thetemperature crept up again and
we don't have any air.
Yeah, so we left we did.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I'm hoping the storms come through and bring down the
temperature.
I'm hopeful that it won't be ashot during the day if we leave
the windows open.
I'm no meteorologist, but I'mseeing like lows in the mid 50s
which will be very comfortableon a morning W.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
It will be.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Yeah, no, I'm looking forward to getting into more of
a rhythm, like when to exercisemorning, afternoon, getting
back at normal times after likefinishing seeing patients and
stuff.
So we'll see how that allshakes out.
Yep, anything you're lookingforward to this week.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Anything I'm looking forward to this week?
Well, yeah, jill's coming onThursday and we're going to
church, aka Tom's dim sum sumthat's gonna be so funny that'll
be fun, and then, well, I guessI am kind of looking forward to
not having to go into work onfriday.
That's always a good day.
(06:36):
So I'm meeting the dog sitterfor the wedding oh, you know
what?
I didn't put two and twotogether that you were not going
to go in person on friday,because you were going to do
that yeah, I'm going to workhere because the dog sitter is
going to come here for thewedding, because we're kind of
closer to the venue and I think1, 30 she's coming and we're
going to have a meet and greetyeah, that's going to be great.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
I wonder, I know picked I I know we're worried
about him jumping up on thedress because he's just so
excitable.
Pictures would be adorable.
I know, I know you're thinkingabout it, though Maybe see what
she has to say about it.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Yeah, I'll see if that's something that she can do
also, which I feel like itmight be.
But then a girl I work withgave me someone she knows
personally and then also doeslike dog, like walk, comes and
like walks her dogs too, butthen she also will like bring
your dog to like your weddingvenue for pictures so are we
(07:34):
like locked into this ladyyou're meeting and greeting on
friday?
um, yeah, for the most part oh Imean the like meet and greet is
to see you know if they maybeyou vibe, yeah jinx.
What are you looking forward tothis week?
Speaker 1 (07:51):
I'm.
I'm truly like not to be atotal nerd.
I am a freak.
I, like anyone, asks me howthis, this thing is going as I'm
just getting started.
I honestly can't get enough andlike, the office is great and
I'm excited to get back in there.
I'm excited to get settled in.
I am excited for a dictationservice.
Um, I know, all of these thingsthat I'm saying are about work.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I think I need to be severed oh yeah, we like started
watching severance, because whydid we get that?
it was part of the credit thatwith our credit card yeah the
what is it on out it's on appletv, yeah, um yeah, we started
watching it because, likeeveryone loves it, I think like
the final season came out likelast year or like earlier this
(08:37):
year or something, and it was awhole big to do and, yeah, you
definitely need to be severed,like you need to come home from
work.
Not think about work, not readabout things that are wrong with
patients, not oh, I know lockinto epic I know I'm obsessed.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
It's just so fun, which is bad.
I do need to find a balance,because I noticed it like this
first week where I was likecoming back and I was just
thinking about it too much andthen ignoring my nikki yeah
which is not good I wouldn't sayyou were ignoring me that's
kind of you.
I'm gonna be critical of myself.
Yeah, something I could work on, we'll see as I get more
(09:20):
settled.
Then you know, yeah, there areworse things.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
I could hate where I work.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
I don't.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
You could.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
It's the opposite.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
That would be tragic one weekend.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Oh my gosh.
Yeah, that would be the worst.
Nope, it's great, all right.
What do you think?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Shall we?
Speaker 1 (09:42):
I think we shall.
So what are we going to talkabout today, Nick?
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Well, since it is coming up on that time of year,
we're talking about the flu.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
We certainly are, and we picked this week for this
episode because it is usuallythe time when most doctors,
offices and pharmacies startdelivering the flu vaccine to
people, so it's a timely episode.
We have one from last year, butwe're hoping to give a little
more detail and a little more ofan update with current numbers.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Eddie, tell us what the flu is.
Numbers Okay, Eddie, tell uswhat the flu is.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
So influenza, or the flu, if you will.
It's a contagious virus andspreads every year, usually from
late fall to early spring, notexclusively, but those are the
general times.
It can cause a lot of symptoms,but there are a few key ones
Fever, cough, sore throat, bodyaches is a pretty specific one
(10:37):
and tiredness.
So a lot of people recover in aweek or two.
But the flu can be devastatingto certain people and lead to
some serious, serious problems.
I mean flu.
Pneumonia can be really nasty.
Flu in the wrong person canlead to hospitalization and,
very unfortunately for frailpeople or more vulnerable people
(10:57):
, even healthy people, flu cancause death.
So that's sad, especially inyoung children, older adults,
pregnant people and those withchronic health conditions.
It is a big deal.
It is something to think about.
So on a macro level, can youtell us how common and serious
(11:19):
the flu is?
Speaker 2 (11:20):
So every year, in the US at least, the flu causes an
estimated 9 to 41 millionillnesses.
Out of those, there are about140 to 960,000 hospitalizations
and then 12,000 to about 80,000deaths per year.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Yeah, big ranges there.
Yeah, I think it changes fromyear to year.
There are good flu years, thereare bad flu years, but those
are the wide ranges that areseen, which I mean, if you
couldn't tell, that is verycommon.
We're gonna have some morestatistics for you later in the
episode talking about, like, howindividually the flu might
(12:02):
affect you.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
But my big takeaway those are very big numbers yeah,
I mean even on the lower end,like 12 000 people dying in a
year from the flu right andespecially for something where,
like, there's a vaccine thatcould help help prevent that.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
So right even, and that's just in the united states
.
Globally, influenza isresponsible for anywhere from
291 000 to 646 000 deaths everyyear, which is sad, but it's a
real thing that we need to thinkand talk about.
So about 8% of people in the USget symptomatic flu each season
(12:44):
and that's, you know, 8%, isn'tevery year.
So we see, depending on theyear, it's anywhere from 3% to
11%.
So big range On the upper ends,that's 1 in 10 people get the
flu, which is no joke.
I mean, you know 10 people, oneof them probably got the flu.
If it wasn't enough to justfeel crappy and get sick, the
(13:05):
flu ends up being a major causeof missed work and school, with
estimates of millions of dayslost each year for school and
work, which you know who doesn'tlike to?
Maybe not work a little bit,but when you're at home feeling
awful and not working and youthink about productivity and
stuff, probably not the best.
Have you ever had to stay homefrom work with the flu?
Speaker 2 (13:29):
um, I mean probably, listen, I've never got tested
for the flu because I've neverlike gone to the doctor, because
I've been like sick with avirus.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
And my like adult life.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
I don't know, maybe my mom took me to the
pediatrician or something.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
But I don't know.
There was that one time whenyou were like ill and like your
heart rate was high.
You had a formal fever and Iwas like what's wrong with this
lady?
Speaker 2 (13:59):
no, I have never been that felt that sick in my life.
That was crazy and that's like.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
I mean, that's what we're talking about.
Sometimes that happens topeople here.
I don't think I've ever had theflu.
I've never been sick enough tothe point where I like reached
out and got help and had the fluand the body aches.
Thing has never happened to mebefore, so can't offer any
personal experience here.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
All right, Eddie, Tell us why we have to get or
you would have to get the fluvaccine every year, and not just
you know one and done one anddone.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Yeah, so it's because the flu virus itself changes
from year to year, which ends upbeing kind of a frustrating
thing.
So it's updated annually toprotect against the most common
types of flu expected eachseason.
Some strategy is that they lookat the opposite hemisphere and
see what affected them in thatflu season and then they tried
(14:55):
to make the vaccine for thatyear based on that information.
It's not an exact thing, whichis why you'll see later in the
show that the flu vaccinedoesn't exclusively help every
single person, which casts somedoubt, I think, among certain
populations, about itseffectiveness and why we push
(15:15):
this so much.
But it is still a great deal ofhelp.
So the CDC and thisrecommendation was done at the
time when the CDC was of soundmind and recommendations were
coming out that were scientific.
I think that's called intoquestion every day.
This information today is fromseveral different sources and
(15:37):
reviews, as well.
As the Advisory Committee onImmunization Practices
recommends that everyone agedsix months and older get a flu
vaccine every year, unlessthere's a formal medical reason
that they can't, which areextremely far and few between.
Like, if you're listening tothis, you probably don't have
(15:59):
one of those medical reasons.
All this to say a little tidbithere.
If it's your first flu vaccine,as like a baby, you need two
doses.
Ask your doctor how thatactually goes.
A common one yesterday thatcame up.
Um, someone got the flu vaccinein the late spring of just last
year, so at this point a couplemonths ago, and they were like,
(16:21):
oh, do I need to get the fluvaccine again?
And my answer was yes, becauseit's a different one it's a
different one, yeah, and it'snew.
So many primary care offices doit, many pharmacies do it.
So go out and get your flu shot.
(16:41):
I'm going to say that like fivemore times in the show.
So, nikki, why don't you tellus a little bit?
Can you give us some numbers,give us an idea?
And we kind of hinted at it alittle bit about that.
It doesn't.
It's not perfect.
It doesn't exclusively helpeveryone all the time.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Okay, let's talk about numbers and how well the
flu vaccine works.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Yeah.
So it's not perfect but ithelps a lot and some of the that
information is coming next.
So the flu vaccine is about 40to 60% effective and it depends
on the season, it depends on theperson's age and some other
health things.
What I will say is that ofcourse this isn't as effective
as other mainstream vaccinesthat we have.
(17:24):
I think of MMR vaccine, measles, mumps, rubella, where the
effectiveness at preventingthose things after two doses is
in the high 90 percentile.
Those things after two doses isin the high 90 percentile.
For COVID vaccines early on wewere seeing reports of low 90s
percent effectiveness atpreventing these things.
Things change over time butessentially 40 to 60 percent
(17:47):
it's effective.
Now it is much more helpfulwhen you think about what it
does like, what it actuallysteps out and makes things
happen.
So in the 20 to 23 to 2024season the flu vaccine reduced
the risk of flu relatedoutpatient visits by about 59 to
(18:10):
67% in children and in adults33 to 49%.
I just want to like sit withthat.
The vaccine itself took thenumber of times that people had
to pick up the phone or goonline say I feel that awful
that I need to go to the doctorand take time out of their day
(18:32):
and go do that.
Whatever copay, coinsurance pay.
Whatever get seen, get theadvice and the testing that you
have the flu, maybe get medicine, maybe not.
It prevented all of that.
So I mean what's more importantmaybe is that it also reduced
hospitalizations.
(18:53):
In children it reducedhospitalizations by 52% to 61%
and in adults 41% to 44%, andyou might find different data
elsewhere, but this is what wefound.
Is it fun to see a kid in thehospital with flu?
Speaker 2 (19:08):
No, it certainly isn't.
Can it be pretty nasty?
Yeah, yeah, I can.
I mean, I've like watched kidsstop breathing.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Right, yeah, awful.
I've seen little old ladiespass away from the flu in the
hospital.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
I've seen little old ladies pass away from the flu in
the hospital, not the lols,yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Preventable.
To a certain degree.
This helps.
It's something to think about,and so really be sincere when
you're thinking about thecommunity benefit that the flu
vaccine gives, even if you'relike a strapping 25 year old
who's like invincible and feelslike you're healthy.
Yeah, your meemaw isn't Right.
(19:45):
Right.
I like how we picked meemaw.
I know that was good because,like we don't, have any sort of.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
We don't have a meemaw.
No, there's no meemaw in ourlike sphere I feel like meemaw
is just like a like.
No offense, if you have or area meemaw, let us know if you
have a meemaw, it's just like ano offense if you have or are a
Meemaw.
Let us know if you have aMeemaw, it's just like a funnier
.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
I think it's a little funnier, but no shade on the
people with the Meemaws.
And if those numbers weren'tenough for you 2017 and 2018,
there's a lot of data for theflu.
There's estimations that itprevented 7.1 million illnesses,
3.7 million medical visits and109,000 hospitalizations and
(20:23):
8,000 deaths in the US.
And I'll tell you what eventhen, the vaccine was only
reported to be 38% effective.
So all of those benefits maybeyou hit the backwards button on
this episode to go listen tothose again All of those
benefits still happened, eventhough the vaccine was only 38%
(20:45):
effective in that year.
So there's more to it.
It's a little complicated andthat's why it takes like a whole
podcast episode to explain itor a whole article, but that's
what we're talking about.
It may not be perfect, but itdoes a world of good and it's
very, very helpful.
So those are big, systemic, bigworldwide population health
(21:08):
numbers about why it's a decentidea to think about getting the
flu vaccine.
Let's bring it down to a littlebit of a more narrow level and
talk about you.
So, Nikki, can you tell us alittle bit more about the
individual benefits of the fluvaccine?
Speaker 2 (21:25):
I can Well.
First and foremost, obviously,it reduces your risk of getting
the flu, and vaccination lowersyour chance of getting the flu
down to about 0.9% every season.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
Pretty low, pretty low, pretty low.
What else can it do for you?
Pretty?
Speaker 2 (21:42):
low, pretty low, pretty low.
What else can it do for you?
Speaker 1 (21:51):
So preventing more serious illnesses that will land
you in the hospital or mightend up with death.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
You don't want death on your problem list.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
You don't want death on your problem list?
No, that would be a bad thingon your list, don't you hate
when you end up with death.
I hate ending up with death.
It sucks.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
It's a bad day can't come back from that.
Well, some people do that's anepisode for another day.
So because it's reducing yourrisk of getting the flu,
reducing serious illnesses andhospitalizations, we're reducing
our time of missing work orschool which both are very
important and can kind of be apain to miss and protects people
(22:31):
who are more vulnerable, suchas people who are pregnant or
infants or the lols.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Right, little old ladies, those little old ladies.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Or you know, like if someone's immunocompromised.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Who can get like really, really sick if they get
the flu?
Speaker 1 (22:47):
you know, right, there we go, and you know,
zooming out, there are somesocietal benefits and we've
talked a little bit about whatthat looks like.
You are protecting others.
Yeah, I'm supposed to feelpreachy at this point.
When more people get vaccinated, it helps protect other people
who can't get vaccinated.
Think about what we saidearlier.
We said the flu vaccine isrecommended for all people six
(23:09):
months and up.
What about those babies?
Babies to five months?
They can't get the flu vaccine.
So by you getting it, you helpprotect them if you spend more
time around them something tothink about.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
I see you pondering over there yeah, no, I'm just
thinking like, like, if we everhave an infant during flu season
, we god help anyone around usbecause I feel like we would be
psychotic if there's anyindication with how we handle
(23:50):
ollie like yeah, no, we're.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Don't come here my fetus, we're nuts, my fetus,
yeah, um, it reduces strain onhospital.
I don't know how, as an averagelistener, you would feel this
effect.
During severe flu seasons,there can be tens of thousands
of hospitalizations related tothe flu.
(24:13):
That puts strain on thehospital.
Hospitals know that this ishappening.
They know it's coming.
Hospitals are more full atthose times.
This is happening, they knowit's coming, hospitals are more
full at those times and, to behonest, there are finite amount
of resources and I think we sawthat during covid, that like the
system was being topped out andyou see what things happen,
(24:33):
like elective surgeries getcanceled or care is more divided
among more people for a finiteamount of people.
I mean, like when you wereworking on the floor, could you
do the same thing for twopatients as you could if you had
seven?
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Well, they would never give me seven patients in
peds.
Fair, yeah, the ratios are muchbetter in peds because no one
ever wants anything to happen toa kid.
Um, but I imagine, no, Iwouldn't be able to if I was in
the adult world, which I neverwould do that, ever on the floor
god bless them, yeah god wolfanyway.
(25:15):
Um, but no, the days that wewere like during when it's like
peak, more like RSV season,which is also like flu season,
yeah, getting like an extra kidwhen you would have like an
otherwise full assignment reallyjust throws your whole day off.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Yep, it's a lot 30 patients on a list of inpatient
patients is way different than12.
There's just less time in a dayto address and talk about
everything, and it doesn't.
I feel like people sometimessnap their fingers and make it
seem like things just happen,like the magic happens in a
(25:51):
hospital, but like it's finite.
So this gets us to a veryimportant question, one that is
often asked Is the flu vaccinesafe?
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Yes, yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
It's very safe.
Many people have no problemsgetting it.
Some may have mild soreness atthe site of injection, maybe a
little temperature bump,probably nothing.
That matches a fever 100.4degrees Fahrenheit, and it all
goes away quickly.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
What do you say when people tell you that they don't
want to get the flu shot,because when they get the flu
shot they get the flu?
Speaker 1 (26:36):
I would say that I appreciate that they're worried
and that I think they may have alittle bit of a
misunderstanding about whathappens during the vaccine
(26:59):
itself is to drum up the immunesystem in a way that that you
create this immunity to the fluso you may feel a little bit of
that immune system activation inthe way of feeling a little
bluff for a little while.
But you know, I think there's alot to be said for like having
(27:21):
that conversation when peopleare so dug in in, like a very
quick visit, which is why we'redoing this here.
Does that make sense?
Was that a decent explanation?
You think I think so.
So, yeah, all that to say, thevaccine itself cannot give you
the flu.
Plain English, this is a goodone.
So, despite so many peoplequalifying to get the flu
(27:44):
vaccine, in the US, it seemsthat only about 40 to 46% of
people get the flu vaccine everyyear, and some groups have even
lower coverage, especially inchildren and young adults.
Globally, vaccination rates areeven lower, with about only 25%
(28:07):
of the general populationvaccinated each year.
So I guess this leaves methinking like why, why is that
sentiment there, like so manypeople don't get it?
I think one thing is that likethis won't happen to me.
Yeah, mentality.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Well, and also, how do I say this without well?
I don't think I would offendanyone.
I feel like people just don'tcare about other people.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
In general, yeah, like empathy and compassion,
don't go far beyond the realm ofwhat you see their immediate.
Yeah, like themselves, yeah Ithink there's some of that I do,
I think in the young adultpopulation it's like why would
this affect me?
A third layer, I think, isdistrust with the medical system
(29:02):
.
I think there's a healthyamount of that out there, which
is why we do something like thisto try to cross that bridge and
help people get a betterunderstanding of, like, actually
, what's going on.
But I think there's a goodamount of distrust.
There's a good amount ofdistrust with big pharma.
Um, in this situation, I thinkit's a little misguided and I
(29:24):
think this is a purelybeneficial thing that will just
help, um, but it's not lost onme that it takes a lot to earn
trust, and there have beencertain things that have
happened in the world and inmedicine that take a deep gash
and leave a deep scar on trust.
I don't think it should applyhere, though.
Yeah, no, but yeah that thosenumbers are very low.
(29:50):
What numbers 40 to 46%.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
Oh yeah, I know.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
Especially when it comes to, like, saving lives.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
Yeah, it could be higher.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
Could be higher.
When should the flu vaccine begiven?
Speaker 2 (30:05):
It's best to get it before the season starts, so
around now, Exactly the idealtiming will probably like if
you're at the doctor willprobably be asked to you know
asked about it.
If you have your like patientportal thing, you'll probably
get a notification.
That's like you're due for yourflu shot.
Speaker 1 (30:27):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
When you're at the pharmacy, they'll probably ask
you.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
You bet.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
So it's best to get it right like before the season
starts or kind of like right atthe beginning.
But really, if you get it, youknow, like mid season it's still
helpful.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
Totally.
Better late than never, and sothe big idea here is to protect
yourself and protect yourcommunity.
Really think about getting theflu vaccine every year, because
when it comes to the flu, it isthe best way to protect yourself
, your loved ones and yourneighbors.
Helps keep everyone healthier,reduces burden on hospitals,
(31:04):
keeps you in work, fewer daysmissed, keeps kids in school and
keeps more people alive andfeeling well, which I think is a
good enough reason and a goodenough is a good enough reason
to endorse getting your fluvaccine this year and every year
.
Feel good about that.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
Great, we thank you for coming back to another
episode of your Checkup.
Hopefully you were able tolearn something for yourself, a
loved one or A neighbor whoneeds the flu vaccine, you guys
can go together.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
You can go together with your neighbor.
Or a neighbor who needs the fluvaccine, you guys can go
together.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
You can't go together with your neighbor.
Check out our website.
Find us on threads the mostactive there.
Not so much now, me working andhaving to not be on the
internet all day.
Send us some fan mail if youwill.
That's a one-way street so wecan read it, but we can't
respond to you.
If anyone feels left out thatwe haven't been responding, and
(32:03):
shout out Ernest and Sons forthat amazing sandwich that I had
last week.
Most importantly, stay healthy,my friends, until next time.
I'm Ed Dolesky.
I'm Nicole Rufo.
Thank you and goodbye, bye.
This information may provide abrief overview of diagnosis,
treatment and medications.
It's not exhaustive and is atool to help you understand
(32:24):
potential options about yourhealth.
It doesn't cover all detailsabout conditions, treatments or
medications for a specificperson.
This is not medical advice oran attempt to substitute medical
advice.
You should contact a healthcareprovider for personalized
(32:51):
guidance based on your uniquecircumstances.
Thank you, I'm not your doctor,I am not your nurse, and make
sure you go get your own checkupwith your own personal doctor.
Hi, welcome to your checkup.
We are the patient educationpodcast, where we bring
conversations from the doctor'soffice to your ears.
On this podcast, we try tobring medicine closer to its
patients.
I'm Ed Dolesky, a familymedicine doctor in the
Philadelphia area, and I'mNicole Rufo.
I'm a nurse, and we are soexcited you were able to join us
(00:24):
here again today.
Big week this week, not a weekof leisure, no, no, leisure time
is over.
Leisure time is over.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Someone went to work this week.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Yeah, just because when I was doing my interview
with them they were like yeah,don't talk about it too much, I
mean not in so many words we'renot going to name.
No, we're not going to namewhere I am.
Of course someone could look itup, but like, we're not going
to name where.
But I loved every bit of it, soI am incredibly excited and I'm
so happy is really what Iwanted to say.
(01:01):
Um, it's busy.
I love the opportunity to getto meet new people.
I tossed out the podcast, uh,the business card every once in
a while and I am just, I'mthrilled I'm over the moon.
It's such a fun thing.
I know, every day is not goingto be easy, but it was a blast.
Um, and other news we've beenexcommunicated from our house
(01:25):
because our entire HVAC systemblew out.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Oh my God, so aggravating.
Allegedly getting fixed laterthis week, though, so we'll see
if that happens.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Yeah, no, giant perk of renting.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Not a problem, except it is our problem when we're
too hot and can't sleep.
No, and like little boys getreally hot little boys get
really hot yeah, too hot, um,but you know, sleeping with the
windows open it is loud yeah,our like street itself is quiet,
(01:58):
but then people, people are notsometimes in like the middle of
the night if they're likewalking home from a bar or
something yeah, I'm prettysusceptible to that.
I think you sleep through a lotof that stuff I know, which is
shocking, because I'm such alight sleeper you are.
(02:19):
I could get up in the middle ofthe night and you hear his
little like oh my god, I hearollie move and I'm like, oh,
who's that is he throwing up?
Speaker 1 (02:28):
have we yeah, have I, like you know, explained this
like this scene where, like youcould be dead asleep you hear,
and you're on the if you're likelaying in the bed, you're on
the right side, you grab thecorner, like kind of like taking
off the screen protector of athing, but like you grab the
corner, you, as if it's a cape,fling the blanket and comforter
(02:53):
off and in one fell swoop, whilethat's coming out, you are
already two feet on the groundwith a towel in hand, somehow
Tossing it under this man ashe's getting ready to puke.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Yeah, it's a mother's instinct.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
It's fantastic.
And then all the while I'm juststirring, waking up, being like
what's happening.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
And then Eddie's like ugh.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Yeah, it's a really fantastic thing.
You're so agile in thesemoments and you are in other
times too, I guess but you know,this is just maybe the most
impressive one.
Um, let's see, have we?
Have we eaten anythinginteresting?
Speaker 2 (03:36):
um, have we?
I feel like we, we gotta, weneed, we need to like figure out
our new routine with your likenew work schedule.
So I feel like we just had likegirl dinner every night.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yeah, that was something.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Although I did come home for lunch the other day and
you had like a whole steak made.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
That was funny.
Tell us about what happenedfrom your perspective.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
When I came home for lunch.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Well, we had planned I knew my day was going to be a
little lighter and I can walkhome in like 10 minutes, so I
can like walk home, have lunch,come back.
And we had planned that I wouldcome home that day because
Eddie had some admin time, so hewas going to be at the house.
I would come home that daybecause Eddie had some admin
time, so he was going to be atthe house.
(04:27):
And then I texted you, probablylike less than an hour before,
like I had planned to come back,something that like there
better be a steak on the tablewaiting for me when I got home.
Like joking.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Right, I could sense there was a joke.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
And then I came home and there was a steak on the
table for me.
It was great, and brusselssprouts and brussels sprouts.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
It's delicious, the best lunch yeah, I really leaned
into that bit I I wanted to doanything more than sit through
more of those onboarding videos.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Yeah, they're always rough.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
So I ran to the store and got the meat and cooked it
up real quick.
It actually came out reallygood.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Yeah, it was delicious for what you claim to
be like a rush job.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
It was a rush job, it was.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
It wasn't a very exciting week because you were
just working.
We were like getting used toand figuring out everything.
Our house is hot because thetemperature crept up again and
we don't have any air.
Yeah, so we left we did.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I'm hoping the storms come through and bring down the
temperature.
I'm hopeful that it won't be ashot during the day if we leave
the windows open.
I'm no meteorologist, but I'mseeing like lows in the mid 50s
which will be very comfortableon a morning W.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
It will be.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Yeah, no, I'm looking forward to getting into more of
a rhythm, like when to exercisemorning, afternoon, getting
back at normal times after likefinishing seeing patients and
stuff.
So we'll see how that allshakes out.
Yep, anything you're lookingforward to this week.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Anything I'm looking forward to this week?
Well, yeah, jill's coming onThursday and we're going to
church, aka Tom's dim sum sumthat's gonna be so funny that'll
be fun, and then, well, I guessI am kind of looking forward to
not having to go into work onfriday.
That's always a good day.
(06:36):
So I'm meeting the dog sitterfor the wedding oh, you know
what?
I didn't put two and twotogether that you were not going
to go in person on friday,because you were going to do
that yeah, I'm going to workhere because the dog sitter is
going to come here for thewedding, because we're kind of
closer to the venue and I think1, 30 she's coming and we're
going to have a meet and greetyeah, that's going to be great.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
I wonder, I know picked I I know we're worried
about him jumping up on thedress because he's just so
excitable.
Pictures would be adorable.
I know, I know you're thinkingabout it, though Maybe see what
she has to say about it.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Yeah, I'll see if that's something that she can do
also, which I feel like itmight be.
But then a girl I work withgave me someone she knows
personally and then also doeslike dog, like walk, comes and
like walks her dogs too, butthen she also will like bring
your dog to like your weddingvenue for pictures so are we
(07:34):
like locked into this ladyyou're meeting and greeting on
friday?
um, yeah, for the most part oh Imean the like meet and greet is
to see you know if they maybeyou vibe, yeah jinx.
What are you looking forward tothis week?
Speaker 1 (07:51):
I'm.
I'm truly like not to be atotal nerd.
I am a freak.
I, like anyone, asks me howthis, this thing is going as I'm
just getting started.
I honestly can't get enough andlike, the office is great and
I'm excited to get back in there.
I'm excited to get settled in.
I am excited for a dictationservice.
Um, I know, all of these thingsthat I'm saying are about work.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I think I need to be severed oh yeah, we like started
watching severance, because whydid we get that?
it was part of the credit thatwith our credit card yeah the
what is it on out it's on appletv, yeah, um yeah, we started
watching it because, likeeveryone loves it, I think like
the final season came out likelast year or like earlier this
(08:37):
year or something, and it was awhole big to do and, yeah, you
definitely need to be severed,like you need to come home from
work.
Not think about work, not readabout things that are wrong with
patients, not oh, I know lockinto epic I know I'm obsessed.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
It's just so fun, which is bad.
I do need to find a balance,because I noticed it like this
first week where I was likecoming back and I was just
thinking about it too much andthen ignoring my nikki yeah
which is not good I wouldn't sayyou were ignoring me that's
kind of you.
I'm gonna be critical of myself.
Yeah, something I could work on, we'll see as I get more
(09:20):
settled.
Then you know, yeah, there areworse things.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
I could hate where I work.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
I don't.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
You could.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
It's the opposite.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
That would be tragic one weekend.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Oh my gosh.
Yeah, that would be the worst.
Nope, it's great, all right.
What do you think?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Shall we?
Speaker 1 (09:42):
I think we shall.
So what are we going to talkabout today, Nick?
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Well, since it is coming up on that time of year,
we're talking about the flu.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
We certainly are, and we picked this week for this
episode because it is usuallythe time when most doctors,
offices and pharmacies startdelivering the flu vaccine to
people, so it's a timely episode.
We have one from last year, butwe're hoping to give a little
more detail and a little more ofan update with current numbers.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Eddie, tell us what the flu is.
Numbers Okay, Eddie, tell uswhat the flu is.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
So influenza, or the flu, if you will.
It's a contagious virus andspreads every year, usually from
late fall to early spring, notexclusively, but those are the
general times.
It can cause a lot of symptoms,but there are a few key ones
Fever, cough, sore throat, bodyaches is a pretty specific one
(10:37):
and tiredness.
So a lot of people recover in aweek or two.
But the flu can be devastatingto certain people and lead to
some serious, serious problems.
I mean flu.
Pneumonia can be really nasty.
Flu in the wrong person canlead to hospitalization and,
very unfortunately for frailpeople or more vulnerable people
(10:57):
, even healthy people, flu cancause death.
So that's sad, especially inyoung children, older adults,
pregnant people and those withchronic health conditions.
It is a big deal.
It is something to think about.
So on a macro level, can youtell us how common and serious
(11:19):
the flu is?
Speaker 2 (11:20):
So every year, in the US at least, the flu causes an
estimated 9 to 41 millionillnesses.
Out of those, there are about140 to 960,000 hospitalizations
and then 12,000 to about 80,000deaths per year.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Yeah, big ranges there.
Yeah, I think it changes fromyear to year.
There are good flu years, thereare bad flu years, but those
are the wide ranges that areseen, which I mean, if you
couldn't tell, that is verycommon.
We're gonna have some morestatistics for you later in the
episode talking about, like, howindividually the flu might
(12:02):
affect you.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
But my big takeaway those are very big numbers yeah,
I mean even on the lower end,like 12 000 people dying in a
year from the flu right andespecially for something where,
like, there's a vaccine thatcould help help prevent that.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
So right even, and that's just in the united states
.
Globally, influenza isresponsible for anywhere from
291 000 to 646 000 deaths everyyear, which is sad, but it's a
real thing that we need to thinkand talk about.
So about 8% of people in the USget symptomatic flu each season
(12:44):
and that's, you know, 8%, isn'tevery year.
So we see, depending on theyear, it's anywhere from 3% to
11%.
So big range On the upper ends,that's 1 in 10 people get the
flu, which is no joke.
I mean, you know 10 people, oneof them probably got the flu.
If it wasn't enough to justfeel crappy and get sick, the
(13:05):
flu ends up being a major causeof missed work and school, with
estimates of millions of dayslost each year for school and
work, which you know who doesn'tlike to?
Maybe not work a little bit,but when you're at home feeling
awful and not working and youthink about productivity and
stuff, probably not the best.
Have you ever had to stay homefrom work with the flu?
Speaker 2 (13:29):
um, I mean probably, listen, I've never got tested
for the flu because I've neverlike gone to the doctor, because
I've been like sick with avirus.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
And my like adult life.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
I don't know, maybe my mom took me to the
pediatrician or something.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
But I don't know.
There was that one time whenyou were like ill and like your
heart rate was high.
You had a formal fever and Iwas like what's wrong with this
lady?
Speaker 2 (13:59):
no, I have never been that felt that sick in my life.
That was crazy and that's like.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
I mean, that's what we're talking about.
Sometimes that happens topeople here.
I don't think I've ever had theflu.
I've never been sick enough tothe point where I like reached
out and got help and had the fluand the body aches.
Thing has never happened to mebefore, so can't offer any
personal experience here.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
All right, Eddie, Tell us why we have to get or
you would have to get the fluvaccine every year, and not just
you know one and done one anddone.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Yeah, so it's because the flu virus itself changes
from year to year, which ends upbeing kind of a frustrating
thing.
So it's updated annually toprotect against the most common
types of flu expected eachseason.
Some strategy is that they lookat the opposite hemisphere and
see what affected them in thatflu season and then they tried
(14:55):
to make the vaccine for thatyear based on that information.
It's not an exact thing, whichis why you'll see later in the
show that the flu vaccinedoesn't exclusively help every
single person, which casts somedoubt, I think, among certain
populations, about itseffectiveness and why we push
(15:15):
this so much.
But it is still a great deal ofhelp.
So the CDC and thisrecommendation was done at the
time when the CDC was of soundmind and recommendations were
coming out that were scientific.
I think that's called intoquestion every day.
This information today is fromseveral different sources and
(15:37):
reviews, as well.
As the Advisory Committee onImmunization Practices
recommends that everyone agedsix months and older get a flu
vaccine every year, unlessthere's a formal medical reason
that they can't, which areextremely far and few between.
Like, if you're listening tothis, you probably don't have
(15:59):
one of those medical reasons.
All this to say a little tidbithere.
If it's your first flu vaccine,as like a baby, you need two
doses.
Ask your doctor how thatactually goes.
A common one yesterday thatcame up.
Um, someone got the flu vaccinein the late spring of just last
year, so at this point a couplemonths ago, and they were like,
(16:21):
oh, do I need to get the fluvaccine again?
And my answer was yes, becauseit's a different one it's a
different one, yeah, and it'snew.
So many primary care offices doit, many pharmacies do it.
So go out and get your flu shot.
(16:41):
I'm going to say that like fivemore times in the show.
So, nikki, why don't you tellus a little bit?
Can you give us some numbers,give us an idea?
And we kind of hinted at it alittle bit about that.
It doesn't.
It's not perfect.
It doesn't exclusively helpeveryone all the time.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Okay, let's talk about numbers and how well the
flu vaccine works.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Yeah.
So it's not perfect but ithelps a lot and some of the that
information is coming next.
So the flu vaccine is about 40to 60% effective and it depends
on the season, it depends on theperson's age and some other
health things.
What I will say is that ofcourse this isn't as effective
as other mainstream vaccinesthat we have.
(17:24):
I think of MMR vaccine, measles, mumps, rubella, where the
effectiveness at preventingthose things after two doses is
in the high 90 percentile.
Those things after two doses isin the high 90 percentile.
For COVID vaccines early on wewere seeing reports of low 90s
percent effectiveness atpreventing these things.
Things change over time butessentially 40 to 60 percent
(17:47):
it's effective.
Now it is much more helpfulwhen you think about what it
does like, what it actuallysteps out and makes things
happen.
So in the 20 to 23 to 2024season the flu vaccine reduced
the risk of flu relatedoutpatient visits by about 59 to
(18:10):
67% in children and in adults33 to 49%.
I just want to like sit withthat.
The vaccine itself took thenumber of times that people had
to pick up the phone or goonline say I feel that awful
that I need to go to the doctorand take time out of their day
(18:32):
and go do that.
Whatever copay, coinsurance pay.
Whatever get seen, get theadvice and the testing that you
have the flu, maybe get medicine, maybe not.
It prevented all of that.
So I mean what's more importantmaybe is that it also reduced
hospitalizations.
(18:53):
In children it reducedhospitalizations by 52% to 61%
and in adults 41% to 44%, andyou might find different data
elsewhere, but this is what wefound.
Is it fun to see a kid in thehospital with flu?
Speaker 2 (19:08):
No, it certainly isn't.
Can it be pretty nasty?
Yeah, yeah, I can.
I mean, I've like watched kidsstop breathing.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Right, yeah, awful.
I've seen little old ladiespass away from the flu in the
hospital.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
I've seen little old ladies pass away from the flu in
the hospital, not the lols,yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Preventable.
To a certain degree.
This helps.
It's something to think about,and so really be sincere when
you're thinking about thecommunity benefit that the flu
vaccine gives, even if you'relike a strapping 25 year old
who's like invincible and feelslike you're healthy.
Yeah, your meemaw isn't Right.
(19:45):
Right.
I like how we picked meemaw.
I know that was good because,like we don't, have any sort of.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
We don't have a meemaw.
No, there's no meemaw in ourlike sphere I feel like meemaw
is just like a like.
No offense, if you have or area meemaw, let us know if you
have a meemaw, it's just like ano offense if you have or are a
Meemaw.
Let us know if you have aMeemaw, it's just like a funnier
.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
I think it's a little funnier, but no shade on the
people with the Meemaws.
And if those numbers weren'tenough for you 2017 and 2018,
there's a lot of data for theflu.
There's estimations that itprevented 7.1 million illnesses,
3.7 million medical visits and109,000 hospitalizations and
(20:23):
8,000 deaths in the US.
And I'll tell you what eventhen, the vaccine was only
reported to be 38% effective.
So all of those benefits maybeyou hit the backwards button on
this episode to go listen tothose again All of those
benefits still happened, eventhough the vaccine was only 38%
(20:45):
effective in that year.
So there's more to it.
It's a little complicated andthat's why it takes like a whole
podcast episode to explain itor a whole article, but that's
what we're talking about.
It may not be perfect, but itdoes a world of good and it's
very, very helpful.
So those are big, systemic, bigworldwide population health
(21:08):
numbers about why it's a decentidea to think about getting the
flu vaccine.
Let's bring it down to a littlebit of a more narrow level and
talk about you.
So, Nikki, can you tell us alittle bit more about the
individual benefits of the fluvaccine?
Speaker 2 (21:25):
I can Well.
First and foremost, obviously,it reduces your risk of getting
the flu, and vaccination lowersyour chance of getting the flu
down to about 0.9% every season.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
Pretty low, pretty low, pretty low.
What else can it do for you?
Pretty?
Speaker 2 (21:42):
low, pretty low, pretty low.
What else can it do for you?
Speaker 1 (21:51):
So preventing more serious illnesses that will land
you in the hospital or mightend up with death.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
You don't want death on your problem list.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
You don't want death on your problem list?
No, that would be a bad thingon your list, don't you hate
when you end up with death.
I hate ending up with death.
It sucks.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
It's a bad day can't come back from that.
Well, some people do that's anepisode for another day.
So because it's reducing yourrisk of getting the flu,
reducing serious illnesses andhospitalizations, we're reducing
our time of missing work orschool which both are very
important and can kind of be apain to miss and protects people
(22:31):
who are more vulnerable, suchas people who are pregnant or
infants or the lols.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Right, little old ladies, those little old ladies.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Or you know, like if someone's immunocompromised.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Who can get like really, really sick if they get
the flu?
Speaker 1 (22:47):
you know, right, there we go, and you know,
zooming out, there are somesocietal benefits and we've
talked a little bit about whatthat looks like.
You are protecting others.
Yeah, I'm supposed to feelpreachy at this point.
When more people get vaccinated, it helps protect other people
who can't get vaccinated.
Think about what we saidearlier.
We said the flu vaccine isrecommended for all people six
(23:09):
months and up.
What about those babies?
Babies to five months?
They can't get the flu vaccine.
So by you getting it, you helpprotect them if you spend more
time around them something tothink about.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
I see you pondering over there yeah, no, I'm just
thinking like, like, if we everhave an infant during flu season
, we god help anyone around usbecause I feel like we would be
psychotic if there's anyindication with how we handle
(23:50):
ollie like yeah, no, we're.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Don't come here my fetus, we're nuts, my fetus,
yeah, um, it reduces strain onhospital.
I don't know how, as an averagelistener, you would feel this
effect.
During severe flu seasons,there can be tens of thousands
of hospitalizations related tothe flu.
(24:13):
That puts strain on thehospital.
Hospitals know that this ishappening.
They know it's coming.
Hospitals are more full atthose times.
This is happening, they knowit's coming, hospitals are more
full at those times and, to behonest, there are finite amount
of resources and I think we sawthat during covid, that like the
system was being topped out andyou see what things happen,
(24:33):
like elective surgeries getcanceled or care is more divided
among more people for a finiteamount of people.
I mean, like when you wereworking on the floor, could you
do the same thing for twopatients as you could if you had
seven?
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Well, they would never give me seven patients in
peds.
Fair, yeah, the ratios are muchbetter in peds because no one
ever wants anything to happen toa kid.
Um, but I imagine, no, Iwouldn't be able to if I was in
the adult world, which I neverwould do that, ever on the floor
god bless them, yeah god wolfanyway.
(25:15):
Um, but no, the days that wewere like during when it's like
peak, more like RSV season,which is also like flu season,
yeah, getting like an extra kidwhen you would have like an
otherwise full assignment reallyjust throws your whole day off.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Yep, it's a lot 30 patients on a list of inpatient
patients is way different than12.
There's just less time in a dayto address and talk about
everything, and it doesn't.
I feel like people sometimessnap their fingers and make it
seem like things just happen,like the magic happens in a
(25:51):
hospital, but like it's finite.
So this gets us to a veryimportant question, one that is
often asked Is the flu vaccinesafe?
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Yes, yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
It's very safe.
Many people have no problemsgetting it.
Some may have mild soreness atthe site of injection, maybe a
little temperature bump,probably nothing.
That matches a fever 100.4degrees Fahrenheit, and it all
goes away quickly.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
What do you say when people tell you that they don't
want to get the flu shot,because when they get the flu
shot they get the flu?
Speaker 1 (26:36):
I would say that I appreciate that they're worried
and that I think they may have alittle bit of a
misunderstanding about whathappens during the vaccine
(26:59):
itself is to drum up the immunesystem in a way that that you
create this immunity to the fluso you may feel a little bit of
that immune system activation inthe way of feeling a little
bluff for a little while.
But you know, I think there's alot to be said for like having
(27:21):
that conversation when peopleare so dug in in, like a very
quick visit, which is why we'redoing this here.
Does that make sense?
Was that a decent explanation?
You think I think so.
So, yeah, all that to say, thevaccine itself cannot give you
the flu.
Plain English, this is a goodone.
So, despite so many peoplequalifying to get the flu
(27:44):
vaccine, in the US, it seemsthat only about 40 to 46% of
people get the flu vaccine everyyear, and some groups have even
lower coverage, especially inchildren and young adults.
Globally, vaccination rates areeven lower, with about only 25%
(28:07):
of the general populationvaccinated each year.
So I guess this leaves methinking like why, why is that
sentiment there, like so manypeople don't get it?
I think one thing is that likethis won't happen to me.
Yeah, mentality.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Well, and also, how do I say this without well?
I don't think I would offendanyone.
I feel like people just don'tcare about other people.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
In general, yeah, like empathy and compassion,
don't go far beyond the realm ofwhat you see their immediate.
Yeah, like themselves, yeah Ithink there's some of that I do,
I think in the young adultpopulation it's like why would
this affect me?
A third layer, I think, isdistrust with the medical system
(29:02):
.
I think there's a healthyamount of that out there, which
is why we do something like thisto try to cross that bridge and
help people get a betterunderstanding of, like, actually
, what's going on.
But I think there's a goodamount of distrust.
There's a good amount ofdistrust with big pharma.
Um, in this situation, I thinkit's a little misguided and I
(29:24):
think this is a purelybeneficial thing that will just
help, um, but it's not lost onme that it takes a lot to earn
trust, and there have beencertain things that have
happened in the world and inmedicine that take a deep gash
and leave a deep scar on trust.
I don't think it should applyhere, though.
Yeah, no, but yeah that thosenumbers are very low.
(29:50):
What numbers 40 to 46%.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
Oh yeah, I know.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
Especially when it comes to, like, saving lives.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
Yeah, it could be higher.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
Could be higher.
When should the flu vaccine begiven?
Speaker 2 (30:05):
It's best to get it before the season starts, so
around now, Exactly the idealtiming will probably like if
you're at the doctor willprobably be asked to you know
asked about it.
If you have your like patientportal thing, you'll probably
get a notification.
That's like you're due for yourflu shot.
Speaker 1 (30:27):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
When you're at the pharmacy, they'll probably ask
you.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
You bet.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
So it's best to get it right like before the season
starts or kind of like right atthe beginning.
But really, if you get it, youknow, like mid season it's still
helpful.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
Totally.
Better late than never, and sothe big idea here is to protect
yourself and protect yourcommunity.
Really think about getting theflu vaccine every year, because
when it comes to the flu, it isthe best way to protect yourself
, your loved ones and yourneighbors.
Helps keep everyone healthier,reduces burden on hospitals,
(31:04):
keeps you in work, fewer daysmissed, keeps kids in school and
keeps more people alive andfeeling well, which I think is a
good enough reason and a goodenough is a good enough reason
to endorse getting your fluvaccine this year and every year
.
Feel good about that.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
Great, we thank you for coming back to another
episode of your Checkup.
Hopefully you were able tolearn something for yourself, a
loved one or A neighbor whoneeds the flu vaccine, you guys
can go together.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
You can go together with your neighbor.
Or a neighbor who needs the fluvaccine, you guys can go
together.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
You can't go together with your neighbor.
Check out our website.
Find us on threads the mostactive there.
Not so much now, me working andhaving to not be on the
internet all day.
Send us some fan mail if youwill.
That's a one-way street so wecan read it, but we can't
respond to you.
If anyone feels left out thatwe haven't been responding, and
(32:03):
shout out Ernest and Sons forthat amazing sandwich that I had
last week.
Most importantly, stay healthy,my friends, until next time.
I'm Ed Dolesky.
I'm Nicole Rufo.
Thank you and goodbye, bye.
This information may provide abrief overview of diagnosis,
treatment and medications.
It's not exhaustive and is atool to help you understand
(32:24):
potential options about yourhealth.
It doesn't cover all detailsabout conditions, treatments or
medications for a specificperson.
This is not medical advice oran attempt to substitute medical
advice.
You should contact a healthcareprovider for personalized
(32:51):
guidance based on your uniquecircumstances.
Thank you, I'm not your doctor,I am not your nurse, and make
sure you go get your own checkupwith your own personal doctor.
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