Why Vaccinate?

With a rise in viral and bacterial respiratory infections and deaths, it makes sense to vaccinate, yet many of us don’t! This Cold and Flu season is meant to be a coming together of various infections such as the usual suspects - Influenza, COVID of course (it isn’t going away as we now have a new one - XBB). Plus, some newcomers such as RSV which used to be only seen in kiddies under two mainly. And a rise again in the old foes such as Whooping Cough and a resurgence of Diphtheria.
So why you may ask do people resist getting vaccinated? Here are a few reasons.
   1. VACCINE FATIGUE We are all sick of getting them especially after all the COVID boosters.
   2. DISTRUST Some people have grown rightly or wrongly to distrust vaccines due to social media hype and confusing health messages around COVID and previously the MMR vaccine for children which has been thoroughly disproven to cause Autism.
   3. CAUSE ILLNESS However, a response if you have a vaccine of a high temp, runny nose etc shows your immune system is responding well. Also, in the cough and cold season you could already have a virus brewing, and then have a Flu shot and blame the vaccination. It's only a portion of the strains of flu and all dead so it can’t make you get the Flu!
   4. TOO BUSY Our lives are so full, that doing preventative health activities including seeing the GP or Pharmacists for a vaccination is low on the priority list.
   5. CONFUSION What should you be getting and when? Flu annually, Covid when new boosters come out, and then 10 yearly it’s the Tetanus, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough Vaccines, and Shingles after 50 if you had chicken pox as a child and many more examples.
   6. UNAWARE A teen or at the young adult stage doesn’t have it on their radar, they were told or made to have immunisations by parents, or school etc.
   7. UNSAFE There are always stories on the news or social media where a rare side effect has occurred from a vaccine. However, most people don’t put in perspective that it’s much more dangerous just driving daily.
   8. PERSONAL Other reasons exist too of course.
So, what is the answer?  In my humble opinion I believe ‘Knowledge is Power’ – so become an expert - this website has all the reputable studies and explanations you will ever need. That way you can decide for yourself or raise questions with your GP and ultimately protect yourself, your loved ones and those who can’t be immunised in the community.
After all, prevention is better than cure!
https://www.science.org.au/education/immunisation-climate-change-genetic-modification/science-immunisation
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Yours in Good Health
Dr Mags Swenson

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