Can the importance of a flu vaccine stand out from the focus on COVID-19? Can you put the energy into prioritizing the need for this vaccine? Is it all just too overwhelming?  Try to shake off that vaccine anxiety.

For the last year and a half, you can’t avoid news about COVID-19, and- through much of 2021- the focus has been the vaccine. But it’s not the only vaccine that should be on your radar right now.  It’s time to get your flu shot.

Vaccine Anxiety with the Upcoming Flu Season

The CDC says flu is most common in the US in fall and winter, generally increasing in October and peaking between December and February. It takes about two weeks to build antibodies after getting the vaccine, though, so the time to get a flu shot is now.

A flu vaccine can keep you from getting sick with this illness, and reduce its severity if you do get sick. It can also help protect others around you like young children, the elderly, and people with a chronic health condition, who are more prone to severe flu.

Is all of this beginning to sound familiar? This is what health officials have said about the COVID-19 vaccine- that it prevents severe illness, protects others, and more.

But these are two different viruses, and they do require two different vaccines.

This Year’s Challenges

Some healthcare workers have been reporting vaccine anxiety and confusion. Patients have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and they think that should also protect against the flu. Other people hold out hope for a shot that will address flu and COVID-19, although nothing has yet been approved.

We are also coming off a very mild 2020 flu season. With widespread mask usage and sanitization processes, alongside remote work and school, there was a record low number of flu cases last year. Because of that, it can be hard to convince yourself to continue spending energy on all these health precautions, but you shouldn’t assume this season will be the same as the last. In fact, health experts are warning the 2021 flu season will be severe.

For many, the challenge is more closely relating to mental health- fatigue in worrying about health issues, fog from how overwhelming it can be to juggle everything, despair over not being able to see an end, and an overall weariness of yet another vaccine.

Take the Flu Seriously

Pushing through the stress of vaccine anxiety can be incredibly difficult, but it’s important to do.

If you’re anxious about going into a healthcare setting because of the continued risk of COVID-19, know that there are many different settings you can get a flu shot. #FluVaxJax is a local push to encourage people to get the flu shot, and they also can help you find flu shot locations.

When it comes to consuming news about vaccines, stick to reputable sources. There is a lot of misinformation circulating about vaccines in general, COVID-19 and the flu specifically, so use a critical eye when reading up about these topics.  Informing and educating yourself about these topics can greatly reduce instances and severity of vaccine anxiety.

For your mental health specifically, a few small steps can make a big difference:

  • Feel empowered, strong, and positive knowing you are helping to protect others, in addition to yourself, by getting the flu shot.
  • Focus on what you can control. You can’t control the actions of other people, but you can control your choice to get the vaccine, the health precautions you take, how much time you spend in high-risk settings, and similar things.
  • Reward yourself! With everything you’re facing right now, even a small step like getting a flu shot can seem like a big challenge or something you’ll “eventually” get around to. Help yourself by building in a reward- once you get your flu shot, go buy a new shirt, take a nap, order take-out, or anything else that can be a special treat to reward your action.

While these feelings of being overwhelmed, complacent, or fatigued are all understandable, it’s also important to understand when this crosses past something you can personally manage. If you need support, Jax Therapy Network has a searchable database of local, licensed therapists and counselors who specialize in a range of practice areas, including areas relating to health.

Ready to find your therapist? Search the Jax Therapy Network and find help with vaccine anxiety through counseling services near you with therapy from professional therapists and mental health counseling support.