barricadeur:

originsosu:

Think you “don’t need” to get a flu shot this year, or that it’s “just not worth it”? Think again.

One hundred years ago, as many as 50 million people died around the world in the influenza epidemic of 1918-1919. The so-called “Spanish flu” killed more
people in 24 weeks than AIDS killed in 24 years. More in a single
year than the “Black Death” did throughout the entire 14^th century.

In the United States, 28% of the
population became infected, and over half a million people died. Cities up and down the country
ran out of coffins. Cemeteries overflowed. In New York City, passengers who entered the subway in Brooklyn feeling fine? Died by the time they reached Manhattan. In Philadelphia, the dead were buried in mass
graves, which are still being discovered to this day.

And
just in case you think being young and able-bodied would have spared
you, consider this: the death toll was highest for healthy young adults aged 20 to 40.

This
is why the influenza vaccine was developed. This is
the kind of horror that scientists spent the next five decades trying to
prevent.

Get your flu shot.

(More info: here and here.)

this is like the public health version of this onion article: