Flu season is almost here, and for some, a flu shot can be as miserable as the flu itself.
“My mother swore by them, and she never got so much as a cold,” said Viola Super of Cleveland. “But just looking at a needle, that’s the instant fear. For some, it’s probably better that you don’t look. If you’re really afraid of needles just don’t look at it.”
But, if you want to stay healthy, flu shots may be your best bet this year.
“It’s a lot cheaper to get the shot than stay home sick and miss work, then you got to get the different medicines,” said Steve Houstons of Cleveland. “It’s a pain in the butt.”
Now, local pharmacies are offering a new alternative to nasal and needle flu shots: a needle-free shot that goes in your arm.
Unlike a traditional injection, the needle-free shot works on a spring power. It allows a direct, pressurized stream of liquid medication to penetrate the skin. The shot takes less than one-third of a second.
“I’ve never heard of that one,” said Joi Pearson of Cleveland Heights. “But anything that can prevent pain, i’m sure everyone will jump on it more sooner than the needle.”
The shot costs the same as other alternatives, about $20-25.
It is now one of three ways you can prevent the flu, and Dr. Thomas Tallman of the Cleveland Clinic says it’s important that you consider one of these options this flu season.
Tallman said last year, Miami Heat basketball star Lebron James made a comment about how a flu shot made him sick–a common misconception about the flu vaccine.
“If you actually get sick on the day you get the vaccination, it’s a coincidence,” Tallman said. “And also keep in mind that once you get a vaccination, it takes 10 to 14 days, for your body to generate the immune response.”
No matter which vaccine you chose, Tallman said all flu shots cover three viruses, including H1N1.
Yet, Tallman said there are many things you can do to stay healthy this year.
“You can mitigate this a lot, remember, good hygiene, if you’re coughing and sneezing, minimize contact, stay home from work,” he said. “You know, treat yourself if you think you have flu or cold symptoms because it’s difficult to differentiate between the two. But the vaccine is the best way to protect yourself.”