Science

Why You Should Get the Flu Shot, According to Science

Do it for the herd.

by Inverse Video

You might not feel sick, but if you haven’t been vaccinated yet, you might be a breeding ground for the flu virus. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the flu virus, so here are some quick thoughts on the issue:

You don’t necessarily get vaccinated for your own benefit. The true benefit of getting the vaccine is to help out the weak, sick, young, and old. It may seem a little counterintuitive, but it’s all about a little thing called herd immunity. If enough people get the vaccine, the virus has a much lower chance of finding any hosts to settle in, creating a population-wide protection against the infectious disease.

The vaccine isn’t a perfect fix. Twice a year, the World Health Organization develops a vaccine against the strains of the flu it predicts will strike. If they guess wrong, you might have wasted your time. Still, do it for the herd!

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