Layla Brinster

AP Biology

12/10

Current Event

Scutti, Susan. “Most US Adults Have Not Gotten a Flu Shot for This Mild Season.” CNN, Cable News Network, 7 Dec. 2018, www.cnn.com/2018/12/07/health/flu-season-vaccination-november-30-cdc/index.html.

Susan Scutti, in her “Most US Adults Have Not Gotten a Flu Shot for This Mild Season” writes that according to the NORC, a research program at the University of Chicago, the majority of adults have not gotten their flu shot this season. ‘Only 43% of surveyed people 18 or older said they had gotten vaccinated against the flu, according to NORC, which has conducted the National Immunization Survey for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since 2005. Including the approximately 14% of adults who said they will get the shot, around ⅓ of adults will not get their flu shot. In part, the reason for this is that this season is particularly mild, with low to moderate flu activity, a dramatic change from previous years of high activity. Although some may think the large fraction of people who remain unvaccinated is because of the low activity, they are wrong; the number of people vaccinated has been similar to years past, in accordance to Richard Webby, a flu scientist. However, the amount of flu-related deaths “was below the usual threshold for this time of year, the CDC said.” Furthermore, only about 2.2% of people visited the doctors for ‘flu-like symptoms’ and 1 for every 100,000 hospitals visits was due to the flu. These reassuring statistics, according to Webby, are because of the dominant flu strand, H1N1, and its match to the developed vaccine, but it is still recommended that people, especially young children/babies get vaccinated.

This connects to society because the flu is a real-world issue. Multiple people have died because of the flu. Even though the flu mortality rate this year is low, it is still very relevant and has caused the deaths of a few. Many people should get vaccinated if they aren’t already in order to stay healthy and resistant to the flu. Also, when people get vaccinated they protect themselves from the flu and prevent the virus from spreading and developing. Therefore, it is safest to get vaccinated and keep yourself healthy. People may not view the flu as a terrible illness, but it does possess the capabilities to be one; it is important to protect yourself. This article also affected me because I haven’t gotten my flu shot yet, so now I want to make my appointment.

Scutti wrote a very well crafted article explaining the flu and its effect this year. She did a nice job with incorporating statistics and relevant quotes from researchers to validate her points and argument. However, Scutti also could have included other references to different scientists or researchers. Scutti also referenced a study done multiple times but did not elaborate enough on the study, in my opinion. In order to improve this, she could have included a graph, table, or chart, with more data in order to provide a visual representation and clarify any misconceptions.