THE DOCTOR IS IN
OP / ED BY DR. ADIL MANZOOR
There was once a time when the only vaccine Americans really worried about was the flu shot. Oh, simpler times. Nowadays, the CDC and doctors seemingly advise getting a vaccine or a booster for a new variant or condition every other month. It can be frustrating to keep up with, really, and trust me, I understand. But it is absolutely for your – and your children’s – good. This is the part many doctors don’t make clear enough.
When health authorities beg to vaccinate yourself and your kids, some parents take the advice for just their kids. The rationale is that they would be able to better handle whatever infection that arises, but their kids cannot. That is true at face value, but the moment I add context to it, you see how wrong such a mindset is. What context, though? Well, here I go.
The flu, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), and coronavirus are all respiratory viruses. They actually have similar symptoms, and you may not be able to differentiate them if you are an untrained eye (that’s the euphemism I’m going for when referring to non-medical professionals, haha). However, the similarity in symptoms does not correlate to a similarity in severity.
The coronavirus has proven itself to be one of the worst health issues humanity has ever faced, so far claiming over 1.1 million American lives in three and a half years. On the other hand, the flu and RSV have not been as big a health worry, with the CDC estimating the flu claims 35,000 lives annually and RSV claims 14,000. While there is a gulf in mortality, human lives are still human lives, and any condition that can claim lives in their thousands is a major health concern.
I still haven’t gotten to the context I wanted to introduce to you, as I need to build a sufficiently strong foundation for you to easily understand. Over the years, Americans, including kids above six months, take annual flu shots. This is necessary as the flu virus mutates and a new variant predominates yearly. Unfortunately, this is the pathway the coronavirus has decided to follow. Of course, you will have heard of the delta and omicron strains that necessitated booster shots. RSV, meanwhile, just got its vaccine for kids approved, and even that is only when the mother is still pregnant.
The United States health authorities have not had to deal with the three viruses simultaneously before, and it is a challenge that must be overcome. It has been difficult to get adults to take even one booster shot of the coronavirus vaccine, how much more taking two more of other conditions. Basically, some adults just believe they can handle the infection if or when it arises and just take their kids to get the vaccine. Some don’t even get their kids vaccinated, which can be fatal, really. Most of the flu deaths annually among kids are among those not fully vaccinated. And when I say most, I’m talking to the tune of 80%! I can’t overemphasize how important vaccination for kids is.
Now, to the much-needed context among adults who think they are fine if they don’t get vaccinated as long as their kids are. Well, there is something called herd immunity, and it is basically when enough of the population is vaccinated or protected against an infection that there is immunity for the rest of the population. This is absolutely crucial for kids below six months who cannot get vaccinated. In fact, even among kids who are vaccinated, they can still get infections like the flu, although the severity is reduced.
Essentially, vaccination is crucial for kids because it protects their developing immune systems from dangerous infections. As adults, it is also important for the protection of one’s self but also to ensure the vulnerable kids don’t get it.
You can get your flu and coronavirus shots at your healthcare Providers office. The RSV vaccine is available for adults above 60 and also for pregnant women to protect their kids. While this vaccine may not be as readily available, you should find it still.
This article was written by Dr. Adil Manzoor, DO, a Board-Certified Internist & Board Certified Pediatrician who works as a Hospitalist and Emergency Room Physician. He is also the current President of Garden State Street Medicine, a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to provide free preventive and acute urgent care services for the homeless. He is also the co-founder of his own unique medical practice, Mobile Medicine NJ & House Call Doctors. He is also currently pursuing an Executive MBA and a Master’s of Science in Healthcare Leadership at Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management and the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences.
References
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/09/29/flu-covid-rsv-vaccines-kids-fall/
- https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-flu-covid19-rsv-viruses-fall-8ffa6bf0c2c0da1a8842db524aad5006
- https://riseandshine.childrensnational.org/flu-covid-and-rsv-vaccines/
