For the first time in my three decades in medicine, the federal government is no longer to be trusted with respect to medical advice. This creates a confusing mess for patients looking to make good decisions. In an unprecedented situation, medical organizations have come out strongly contradicting the bogus messaging coming from the current federal administration. For patients with lung disease this creates an especially dangerous situation.
Until recently, public health was not a political issue. Sure, there were fringe elements who put forward conspiracy theories that were obviously false. But now the same completely untrustworthy people who were widely known to be uninformed and uneducated in public health are in charge of Department of Health and Human Services. In order to clear the field of educated, informed and expert opinions that undermined his conspiracy theories, RFK jr. fired all the experts. In their place he has brought in pretenders that drink from the same poisoned well of conspiracy theories.
So where does this leave patients who need clear and accurate information?
First and foremost, lean on the doctors that have been taking care of you. Ask your primary care doctor, ask your pulmonologist and your cardiologist. RFK jr. does not care one ounce about you and your health. He is a nincompoop who struggles to understand a Dr. Zeus story let alone medical research. He could not care less if you are gravely in the hospital.
Influenza is a leading cause of illness in the winter. Each year about 50,000 Americans die from influenza and pneumonia. Each winter millions of Americans miss work related to influenza. Serious problems related to flu vaccination are very rare. Serious allergic reactions occur in approximately one in a million. Guillain Barre, a rare neurologic disease, occurs in approximately one in a hundred thousand vaccine recipients. Furthermore, egg allergy is no longer considered a barrier to receiving flu vaccination.
Let me be very clear and I will put this in terms that even the most vaccine-skeptical readers can appreciate:
VACCINES ARE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE
THE GREATEST ADVANCES IN MODERN MEDICINE ARE OUR VACCINES
THEY ARE GREAT. THEY SAVE LIVES.
Make a good decision. Get your annual flu vaccination.
