It never fails. Following the holiday season, so many of us contract viruses that are going around, whether it be the flu, RSV or the dreaded COVID-19. Though things are definitely not as dire as they were in 2020 and 2021, during the height of the pandemic, the first part of the year is usually the time where so many of us wind up using our sick days.
In fact, just yesterday, Sampson Regional Medical Center imposed visitor restrictions, due to the prevalence of respiratory viruses in the community. The restrictions include limiting visitors to those over the age of 18, and asking anyone with symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, or muscle and body aches to refrain from visiting patient rooms unless they have been symptom-free for at least 24 hours.
In addition to the usual flu and other respiratory infection cases, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported that several cases of the measles have been diagnosed in the state over the past few weeks. It’s a bit startling to see measles making a comeback, since the illness was thought to be eradicated in the U.S. in 2000.
While vaccines, of course, are not a cure-all, the best line of defense against getting sick is to get your shots. While we’re obviously not health professionals, we will defer to those that are. As Kelly Parrish, director of nursing at the Sampson County Health Department, told us last week, “vaccination significantly reduces the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death, especially among older adults, young children, pregnant individuals, and those with chronic medical conditions. Even when someone who is vaccinated gets the flu, their illness is typically milder and shorter.”
In addition to getting that annual flu shot, Parrish said staying up to date on all recommended vaccines, including COVID-19 and RSV, can add an extra layer of protection.
True, there has been controversy with vaccines, no matter what the disease may be, with the country’s top health officials sometimes arguing against getting vaccinated. While, yes, it should be up to the individual whether or not to get a shot to guard against flu, COVID-19, RSV or any other illness, we wholeheartedly encourage Sampson citizens to take actionable steps to protect their health and the health of others.
Wearing a mask in public if you have a contagious illness is a courtesy to others, not bowing down to government influence. Repeated hand washing is also advised. Whatever you can do to keep yourself and your loved ones from getting sick, we encourage you to do it.
While the shot may leave you feeling a little woozy or slightly sick for a day or so afterward, it’s much better than contracting a preventable disease and suffering for a longer period of time, at least in our opinion. And the same with wearing masks. They’re inconvenient, they fog up if you wear glasses, but the minor inconvenience caused by putting on a mask is worth it if you don’t end up stuck in bed for a week.
As with any of the precious freedoms we have in America, it’s up to you whether or not to seek treatment for an illness, or have a vaccine. But please, think not only of yourself, but of your children, your loved ones, the elderly and others who may have compromised immune systems. Getting sick is a fact of life, but it’s one that doesn’t have to be as bad as it turns out to be sometimes. If we could just take the proper steps in prevention and treatment, it would make all the difference in the world.
Please, listen to trained medical professionals, and not just those with influence and titles.