Nov. 2, 2022 — When Jason Alexander carried out within the musical Jerome Robbins’ Broadway in 1989, he bought the flu.
Seems, not getting the flu vaccine that yr nearly price him a Tony award.
“I missed six performances as a result of my flu become bronchitis,” says Alexander, who has bronchial asthma and is greatest identified for his position as George Costanza in Seinfeld. “I’ll always remember how the producers mentioned ‘I don’t care how sick you might be, get again on stage.’ I spent a stable week making an attempt to do a really bodily taxing present with bronchitis.”
Although Alexander did go on to win the Tony, he by no means missed his annual flu shot once more. That have is only one cause he’s taking part in a brand new flu marketing campaign, a partnership between the American Nurses Affiliation and flu vaccine maker Sanofi.
Entitled “Not At present, Flu,” the marketing campaign options Alexander encouraging individuals to get vaccinated and urge their family members to get a flu shot, too.
That is all of the extra urgent as flu season is in full swing and specialists at the moment are warning of a “tridemic” this winter as COVID-19 restrictions have been eased. The CDC stories that this yr’s flu season is approaching sturdy and early. Between Oct. 1 and Oct. 22, 443 flu-related hospitalizations had been reported within the company’s surveillance community, the very best variety of hospitalizations reported right now of the season in 10 years.
“With a lot discuss vaccinations over the previous 2 years, I perceive why persons are both avoiding or are hesitant about vaccinations,” Alexander says. “However there’s concern within the medical neighborhood that this might be a devastating flu season if individuals don’t inoculate.”
The aim of getting vaccinated: To maintain individuals out of the hospital and keep away from respiratory issues.
Seems, Alexander is aware of a factor or two about hospital life. His mother was a nurse and he was typically round sick individuals who had been struggling to regain their well being.
“I grew up in and across the hospital the place she labored,” he says. “I labored as a dishwasher and within the laundry room there. My mom would have been very completely satisfied if I gravitated towards the medical discipline, however I’m a practical fool, so I went into this as a substitute.”
In the end, Alexander has only one message: Go get your shot as rapidly as attainable, particularly with the vacation season proper across the nook.
“As a result of we’ve been in a pandemic and all people has been staying away from one another, we’ve misplaced a few of our pure immunity to the flu,” Alexander says. “This may be the primary vacation season because the pandemic started that persons are getting along with family members. Why derail that since you’re laid up with the flu!”
And relaxation assured: The flu shot is protected.
“There are not any horror tales concerning the flu shot,” he says. “It’s been round your entire life, it’s been nicely examined, and it positively received’t make keys persist with your brow.”
To discover a flu shot close to you, go to NotTodayFlu.
