The low-down on VACCINES

With flu season just around the corner, health writer Natalia Lubomirski reveals why it’s time for you to get immunised

- Natalia Lubomirski

Every winter, the flu virus kills 6 000 to 11 000 South Africans. A study warned that pregnant women and adults with longterm medical conditions who contract it could end up with such severe breathing difficulties their lives could be at risk. But one small thing could help prevent it – the flu vaccine. Like other inoculations, the flu vaccine stimulates your immune system to make antibodies to attack the flu virus, so when you’re exposed to it, your immune system recognises the virus and produces antibodies to fight it. In previous years, flu vaccines have prevented over five million cases worldwide.

But with a new wave of vocal ‘antivaxxers’, there’s a worry people might be threatening their health by skipping the flu vaccine, and other key shots. In fact, the situation is serious enough for the World Health Organization to have listed the anti-vax movement as one of the top 10 biggest health threats in 2019.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN