Today, I (literally) rolled up my sleeves and put my money where my mouth is.
It’s fluvax day at work and with most of my colleagues, I lined up to get a free lollypop. And my annual flu vaccination. With all my banging on about how important it is for us to be vaccinated, it would be pretty hypocritical of me to not get my flu jab each year.
Here’s how it played out:
Step 1 – look of great suspicion from me because no one but no one can give a needle like I can.
Step 2– Squeeeeeze! And waiting for the sting.
Step 3 – Here. Let me help you! (AKA – I’m really not good at letting other people jab me with needles.)
Step 4 – I’ll take it from here.
Step 5 – Nope – didn’t hurt.
Step 6 – Worth it!
Okay, so here’s the deal. People living with chronic health conditions – such as diabetes – are more susceptible to catching (and experiencing complications from) the flu. The flu is not a little sniffle that has you deciding to take the day off so you can sit on the couch, eat left over Easter eggs and binge-watch Netflix. The flu is terribly debilitating. Approximately 3,000 Australians die every year because of the seasonal flu, or complications due to the flu or pneumonia. Yes – it’s serious.
This terrific information sheet offers lots of information about the flu, and this year’s vaccination program. It’s been developed by the Australian Government’s Department of Health, so if you are an anti-vax twit, now is your time to start talking about conspiracy theories and how the Government is in the pocket of Big Pharma. (Please do it away from me. I’m not interested.)
Also useful is this piece that appeared last month on The Conversation.
The flu is incredibly contagious and spreads easily through infected droplets in the air and by hands. Vaccination is the best way to prevent and stop the spread of the flu. I don’t know about you, but I do as much as I can to live a healthy life. Getting my annual flu vax is a really simple, relatively painless and safe way to help me on my way.
Diabetogenic 
3 comments
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April 14, 2015 at 3:21 pm
rennydiokno2015
Reblogged this on rennydiokno.com.
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April 15, 2015 at 5:44 am
Shannon
Well done, Renza. I wish you a happy and flu-free Southern Hemisphere winter!
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April 16, 2015 at 5:17 pm
Public transport user
Could we please also remind people that the other ways of preventing the spread of colds and flu are covering your mouth when you cough (or eat or yawn, but that might be just me) and try to sneeze into a tissue or hankerchief? And wash your hands – often.
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