The Worry You Can Conquer

Ruth Marcus on Oct 15, 2014

There is an interesting debate about how many people die of the flu each year. The standard, prod-the-masses-into-getting-shots figure is north of 30,000. In fact, the numbers are dodgy -- flu is not necessarily listed as the cause of death, even when it is -- and vary widely from year to year.

A 2010 analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of 31 influenza seasons, from 1976 to 2007, found annual numbers ranging from 3,349 to 48,614. The World Health Organization estimates that annual flu epidemics "result in about 3 million to 5 million cases of severe illness, and about 250,000 to 500,000 deaths" worldwide.

Even so, a disappointingly low percentage of Americans get flu shots each year, even as the availability of vaccinations increases and the cost drops. By the end of flu season, the share of those who have received shots tends to be less than half, according to the CDC. "I don't need it," people tend to say (28 percent, in a 2011 RAND Corporation study), or "I didn't get around to it" (16 percent.)

I write this with some sheepishness, as someone who hasn't managed to get around to it in the last few years -- and, even worse, hasn't managed to rouse herself to get around to it for the kids either.

That was dumb. The vaccine isn't foolproof, but it can prevent you from contracting the flu and perhaps make your case milder if you do get sick. I'm marching us to the drugstore this afternoon.

You should, too. Stop fretting about the unlikely. Do something about the predictable.

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Ruth Marcus' email address is ruthmarcus@washpost.com.