Did you get a flu shot yet? We sure hope so. If you’re putting it off because you’re too busy or insisting you won’t get the flu, consider these six great reasons to be part of the Anti-Flu Force:   

1. Reduce your flu risk by more than half

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studies in healthy adults show that a flu vaccination decreases risk of influenza-like illness by 60% when the flu vaccine is well-matched to circulating viruses. With something that effective, a quick prick is a very small price to pay.    

2. Spare the complications

It’s no fun to suffer from a fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and a cough, but the flu’s more serious concern is how it can lead to a more troubling infection such as pneumonia. Post-flu complications are a particular risk for someone already afflicted with asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or other auto-immune conditions.   

3. Do what’s good for friends and family 

The vaccine isn’t all about you. Getting a shot for yourself also protects the people you know and care about—parents, coworkers, and neighbors. People with increased risk include children, pregnant women, and those over 60. Rolling up your sleeve means you’re also looking out for a grandparent, your best friend’s new baby, or a coworker with asthma. For a dose of civic responsibility, a flu shot is the right thing to do.

4. Say yay to the no-pay

You’ve heard of copays, but a flu shot is simply a no-pay. All you need is your PacificSource Member ID card; show up at your doctor’s office, an in-network urgent care clinic, or a nearby in-network pharmacy (which are just about everywhere). Some employers even host flu-shot days. Rolling up a sleeve is as convenient and affordable as can be. 

5. Save money

In addition to all the hacking, aching, and other flu-like symptoms that could keep you down for not taking precautions, the flu can also be costly. Whether it’s tissues or over-the-counter drugs, staying comfortable can add up—and that doesn’t include using up paid time off (or, worse, if you’re not getting paid on sick days).

6. Take a short minute to prevent a major danger

For some people, the flu may simply be an annoying and inconvenient setback and relatively harmless. The CDC begs to differ: Of the 959,000 flu sufferers hospitalized during the fall and winter of 2017-’18, more than 79,000 died. The question then is “Why chance it?” Or be a risk exposure to others? For more information, go to cdc.gov/flu/.

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