08/09/2025
“The flu shot isn’t about you. Read that again.
I said this last night and I’ll say it louder today: the flu shot is bigger than you.
Influenza isn’t “just a bad cold.” It’s a severe respiratory illness. I’ve had it — it’s brutal. High fevers. Every bone aching. Gasping for breath like you’ll never catch it. And yes, it can kill.
You don’t just get the shot for yourself. You get it for:
👵 The grandparents whose bodies can’t fight like they used to.
🌸 The mom of 3 going through chemo with zero immune system.
👶 The newborn too fragile to fight infections.
💉 The nurses + doctors who need to stay healthy so they can take care of you.
💊 The 50-year-old on meds that weaken his immunity.
🤰 The pregnant mama finally carrying her miracle baby.
👨👦 The single dad who can’t afford another sick day.
🎈 The 7-year-old boy who just wants to play but is high-risk.
❤️ The 30-year-old with HIV whose immune system is already fighting battles.
The flu shot is NOT always about you.
It’s about the people around you — the ones who can’t protect themselves.
I’ve sat in the room as someone took their last breath from influenza.
I’ve seen patients struggling for air.
I’ve done everything I could — warm blankets, Tylenol, nebulizers — just to keep them comfortable as this virus ravaged their body.
Herd immunity is real. Influenza kills. Getting the flu shot should be non-negotiable.
Protect yourself. Protect others. That’s what this is about."
*** Nurse Amanda Catherine Bitz ***
