How to encourage your colleagues to get the flu shot because nobody wants to get sick

To the chagrin of needle phobes, now is the time to get vaccinated against the flu. Last winter, about 80,000 Americans died of the flu and its complications, marking the largest number of deaths in at least 40 years, according to the AP. One of the key factors in this impressive number is the decrease in the number of people who get vaccinated. And when it comes to influenza vaccines, it's not just a problem at the individual level – even if you contract it yourself, if people around you do not do it, it can contribute to the spread of the disease. Since most people spend most of their day at work, here are some ways to convince your colleagues to get the flu shot, to help them stay less vulnerable, and all those around them.

First, arm yourself with some facts to convince your peers. Influenza means that US employees miss 17 million work days a year, and everyone with the flu knows it's not a fun day. As the Washington Post reported, in the United States less than four in 10 adults received a flu shot last winter. Anyone six months of age or older should receive an annual flu shot, ideally by the end of October, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

If your colleague doubts the effectiveness of the shot, you can start by explaining how it works. Influenza vaccines result in the formation of antibodies in the body about two weeks after vaccination, providing protection against infection by the viruses contained in the vaccine. While getting vaccinated does not guarantee 100% that you will not be sick, studies show that influenza vaccination reduces the risk of disease by 40 to 60% in the general population.

Even if you are still sick after being vaccinated, the vaccine can help you decrease the severity and shorten the duration of your illness. "The influenza vaccine should be part of the routine care … it's like wearing a seatbelt or an air bag, it's not perfect, but it virtually reduces the risk by half," he said. said Dr. Robert Jacobson, pediatrician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. , Minnesota, told BuzzFeed News.

Faced with such discordant statistics for such a preventable phenomenon, it will be difficult for your colleague to challenge the benefits of getting shot for their own health.

their own health is not enough to influence your colleague, tell them that getting vaccinated is also beneficial. Everyone knows that influenza can cause serious illness, hospitalization and death, but populations including elderly people, very young children, pregnant women and some people with certain chronic diseases are particularly susceptible to influenza, according to the CDC. Being vaccinated contributes to maintaining overall levels of influenza and preventing its spread, thereby protecting the minority of people who can not be vaccinated and those particularly vulnerable to the development of complications related to the disease. As reported in The Outline, children in areas where parents have chosen not to vaccinate their children are spreading these (preventable) diseases more quickly in their communities.

Finally, show your colleagues that they have options. If your workplace does not offer free flu shots, they are also available at most pharmacies, including Rite Aid, Walgreens and the CVS Minute Clinic, for a nominal fee. And while this may seem like a minor nuisance, the more people are encouraged to get the flu shot, the better the population as a whole. At the very least, this could help them hang on to the subway mast during their morning commutes with a little more comfort.