Act Now: Protect Yourself and Others by Getting the Flu Shot Today

My cousin, Amanda, died from the flu when she was 4 years old, before I was even born. Because of this, my entire family has been very involved in efforts to raise awareness about the danger of Influenza and encouraging people to get vaccinated. We are all committed to getting our annual flu shot.

This year was no different, except that it was.

My friends and I had a plan to get the flu shot. But before I had a chance to get it, I got sick.

It was early October, and Hurricane Milton was bearing down on Florida. My roommate and most of my friends had gone home to get away from the storm. I was by myself in my dorm and I thought I had just a bad cold. We all know how college is, sniffles and sore throats are the norm. We’re rundown from late nights and full days. Feeling less than 100 percent is pretty much a college student’s reality.

But I also had a horrible headache and at my mom’s urging I went to a local urgent care. I tested positive for two strains of flu, A and B — which is unusual.

My parents were on the phone when I got the test results, and my mom started crying. We were told my heart rate was holding over 220 and my blood pressure was very low. I didn’t really know what all those numbers meant but, in fact, I had started to go into sepsis. The Urgent Care called an ambulance, where I was started on IV fluids and antibiotics.

I was terrified.
Somehow, despite the incoming hurricane mother flew into town and by the time I was

discharged from the hospital that afternoon, she was there by my side.

The next day, I woke up feeling worse. I couldn’t hold any meds or liquids down, I kept vomiting, and I became severely dehydrated. I went back to the hospital where they medicated me intravenously again and, physically, I recovered. Thankfully. The doctors told me I could have died.

But it was also what happened after that threw me for a loop. I began randomly crying for no obvious reason, and I was really, really anxious about everything. I didn’t want to socialize. I was depressed. I later came to understand that all these symptoms are an actual condition, called post-viral depression, caused by a traumatic event. I never knew about post-viral depression before this all happened to me.

You can bet that next year I’ll get my flu shot as soon as the vaccines are available.

Unfortunately, I think people continue to feel nonchalant about the flu, that it’s no big deal. But I’m here to tell you that’s not the case. It killed my cousin, and it could have killed me.

If you’re not feeling well, you need to take that seriously, even if you think it’s just a little cough and cold. Go get tested! The decision to go to the Urgent Care saved my life.

And I urge everyone to get your flu shots immediately if you haven’t already. I don’t want anyone to go through what my family members and I have experienced.

Kaitlyn Covert is a freshman at the University of Florida.  She is a member of the Junior Board at Families Fighting Flu.

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