As the season approaches, it's important to get the flu shot

By Erin Muckey, MD

As an emergency medicine physician, I have seen firsthand how quickly influenza can turn from what seems like a routine illness into a serious medical emergency. While many people recover without complications, others develop pneumonia, respiratory failure, or worsening of underlying medical conditions. Each year, influenza leads to hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and tens of thousands of deaths across the United States.

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Fortunately, we have a simple and effective way to reduce these risks: the annual flu vaccine.

While the flu vaccine or "flu shot" does not guarantee that you won't get sick, it reduces the risk of infection and, importantly, can significantly lower the likelihood of serious complications, hospitalization, and death. This protection is especially important for older adults, young children, and individuals with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease.

Vaccination also benefits the broader community. Infants younger than six months cannot receive the flu vaccine, and individuals with compromised immune systems may not develop the same level of protection from vaccination. Reducing the spread of influenza helps protect these vulnerable populations while also limiting the strain on emergency departments and hospitals during flu season.

Despite the clear benefits, misconceptions about the flu vaccine persist. One common misunderstanding is the belief that the flu shot can cause influenza. It cannot. The injectable vaccine contains either inactivated virus or specific viral components, neither of which can cause influenza infection. Some people do experience fatigue, mild achiness, or a low-grade fever following vaccination, but these symptoms are generally short-lived as the immune system strengthens its defenses and are not the same as having the flu.

Another common question is why vaccination is necessary every year. Influenza viruses are constantly evolving, and the strains circulating in one season may differ from those in the next. This can allow the virus to evade the immune system of someone who was vaccinated or otherwise exposed to a prior strain. Scientists monitor and anticipate these changes and update the vaccine annually to better match the viruses expected to circulate. Protection from prior vaccination also decreases over time, making annual vaccination important.

As an emergency medicine physician, hospital leader, and mother of two young children, I appreciate the importance of prevention from several perspectives. I have cared for patients experiencing life-threatening complications of influenza, seen the pressures that seasonal illness places on our hospitals, and navigated the challenges of keeping my family healthy.

"'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure' isn't just a saying — it's a reality I see in medicine every day. The flu vaccine is one of the most accessible and effective tools we have to put that into practice.

As we enter another flu season, I encourage everyone eligible to get vaccinated. It's a simple step that can make a meaningful difference for your health, your family, and your community."

Erin Muckey, MD, MBA. She is an emergency medicine physician and serves as Chief Medical Officer of Northwell Greenwich Village Hospital.