If coughs and runny noses aren’t enough encouragement to get a flu shot, here’s 10 reasons why it’s worth a rethink.

1. What’s one more needle jab? Among healthy adults, the vaccine is 70-90 per cent effective in reducing the effects of the flu when the match between the vaccine and circulating virus is close. The vaccine is designed to protect against three of the most prevalent strains of influenza in any given year. Even if the vaccine doesn’t totally protect you from getting ill, it will make the symptoms less severe.

2. The vaccination doesn’t cost you anything. Less than six per cent of the Defence population usually seeks influenza immunisation each year, yet it’s available for free at all ADF health facilities. Just phone to make an appointment.

3. Take action now to prevent infection later. The months before winter are the best time to get vaccinated in the southern states, before the flu virus flares up, while flu circulates all year in the north. It takes about two weeks for the vaccination to become effective and lasts until the next flu season when new strains usually circulate.

4. There’s little pain for a lot of gain. Although only 5-10 per cent of the population typically gets influenza each year, the illness is highly contagious as only small quantities of virus are required to start an infection. Without immunisation, it is difficult for the body to develop its own protection as the virus changes so the body needs to develop a new specific protective response. Influenza vaccine is well-tolerated by most people and the most common side effects are redness and soreness at the injection site for a few days.

5. Look after yourself, your family and your mates. Vaccination not only helps to protect the immunised person from being ill, but also protects others by increasing the general level of immunity and minimising the spread of infection. An infected person can spread influenza from up to a day before becoming ill and up to eight days after.

6. There’s better things to do with your time off than be sick. Think of the misery of muscle and joint aches, fever, tiredness and headaches – not to forget the coughs, runny nose and sore throats that make food taste bland. Antiviral medications are available to treat and prevent influenza, but these medications are not a substitute for vaccination.

7. Avoid spreading germs. Immunised people have less chance of getting ill and of spreading the illness if they do get sick. Influenza is usually spread from person to person through the air by droplets – produced during coughing and sneezing – which contain the virus and these are breathed in. The virus can also be passed by contact with infected respiratory secretions from other people on surfaces such as phones, door handles and taps.

8. The flu can get complicated. Influenza is commonly thought to be a mild illness, but it can be very severe. Young people can get pneumonia, ear and sinus infections after being ill with the flu. Other complications may include bronchitis and croup.

9. Influenza is one of the more severe and debilitating flu illnesses. Influenza is a subgroup of flu, which is a very large group of viruses, many of which do not cause a particularly severe illness. Immunisation protects against the influenza type, which normally causes a more harsh illness. Influenza is not the same as a cold.

10. Recovery can take longer than you think.
Severe symptoms subside over 1- 3 days but full recovery takes 7-21 days.