| I have a confession: I didn't get a flu shot this winter. It came back to bite me last week when I was stuck in bed for days with a fever, full-body aches and a deep, painful cough. It was the sickest I've been in years. At first, I thought it had to be Covid-19 or maybe even RSV. But an at-home rapid-test — just like the ones we're all so used to taking for Covid — confirmed it was the common flu. Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one. Several of my friends were sick, too. Here in New York, flu cases are at the highest they've been in years. Nationwide, there's been a spike in cases as well. So, if it seems like everyone is sick right now, they probably are. But as much as we loathe getting sick, the flu shot isn't very popular. Only 44% of US adults have gotten a flu vaccine so far this season, which is pretty typical. When I was on day three of bed rest, slurping down another bland bowl of chicken soup, I couldn't help regretting that I wasn't one of them. Still, it's hard to say whether I would've been spared by getting the jab. Flu vaccines are generally safe, with few side effects, and have been used for about 80 years. They're also notoriously subpar. At best, they're about 60% effective, but can be far less. It all depends on how well-matched they are to the flu strains circulating each season. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects flu vaccine effectiveness estimates for this year later this month. It's why I took my chances and just didn't get one. But my risk assessment might be different than someone else's. I'm young, active and (usually) healthy. My chances of getting seriously ill are lower than my parents', who are in their 60s. The flu can be especially dangerous for young children, pregnant women, older adults and those with compromised immune systems. And yet, I still got really sick. There have already been 250,000 hospitalizations and 11,000 deaths from flu so far this season, according to data from the CDC. Even when the shot isn't as effective at blocking the virus, it can still help minimize how sick we get. In the not-so-distant future, we may get a better flu vaccine. It's something scientists are actively working on. But until then, I think I'll take what we've got. Consider this a lesson learned the hard way. — Madison Muller | 
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