Before folks can start carving turkeys and putting up trees, they need to remember it's also flu season. So do all the usual stuff: wash hands, sneeze into your elbow, and toss salt over your left shoulder every time you . . . no, wait. That's for something else.
Whenever this time of the year creeps up, so does the age-old argument of whether to get vaccinated against the flu. Most insurance companies pay for it, and even if yours doesn't, most county health units will provide it free of charge. It's easy to get a flu shot. It's easy to get protected. It's easy to protect others with the so-called herd immunity.
That is, some folks can't get vaccinated because they have flawed immune systems. Everyone else being vaccinated acts as a shield for those who can't be. Herd immunity. If the virus can't jump around person to person, the sickest among us can be protected, too.
Word has it a student at Pea Ridge was recently diagnosed with whooping cough. That's another illness that vaccines can prevent. No confirmation yet on whether the person diagnosed actually had the vaccine, but every time something like this happens, it's another reminder to have the doctor provide appropriate vaccines for the kiddos.
Vaccines aren't the perfect answer, but your health isn't worth taking the risk. Nor is ours. (Hint, hint.)
Editorial on 11/10/2019