PERHAM — As the weather cools and the snow begins to fall, flu season approaches. And, with flu season, comes vaccine season. The amount of information about vaccines available, especially in the age of the internet, can be overwhelming. So, Perham Health family medicine physician, Dr. Lindsay Haugen, sat down to give a comprehensive guide on all things vaccines.

“(Being scared or hesitant of vaccines) is very reasonable,” Haugen said. “There’s a lot of information that can tell you a lot of scary things, so I think that is a very reasonable feeling. But I do trust the vaccinations that we have. I trust the process that they’ve been through. There have been — at this point — a lot of studies on the flu shot, the COVID vaccine and more and more on RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). Studies have shown the pros of getting the vaccine much outweigh any negative side effects.”

The biggest misconception Haugen has heard about vaccines — particularly the flu shot — is people who believe that receiving their influenza vaccination gave them the illness. She reassures people, however, that this isn’t the case. While it’s normal to have an immune reaction, such as flu-like symptoms, the vaccination injects an inactivated virus. This means that the virus is not live and will not give you the flu. It will simply build up your immune system against the virus.

Haugen has also heard many misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine and its boosters. “There’s a lot of things out there about the COVID-19 vaccine, but we know that they’re safe,” she said. “The new booster targets Omicron specifically. There are a couple strains of Omicron that are more likely and more prevalent now (since the first COVID-19 vaccine). So if you’ve had the vaccine before, that’s great — it’s going to give you coverage — but the new vaccines do target different strains.”

While vaccines don’t always make you completely immune to a virus, Haugen said that the goal — especially with the COVID-19 vaccine and its boosters — is to ensure you have a less severe reaction if you get ill. If your immune system is familiar with the virus and ready to fight it from the vaccine, it could prevent hospitalization.

“Even if people have had COVID in the past, over time — like anything — your immunity wanes,” Haugen explained. “This means your immunity is not as strong. And then when COVID — like any virus — learns how to change or mutate, different strains — Omicron being one of them — can pop up that try and evade the vaccinations that we have. And so, getting a booster can help boost the immune system with protection toward those newer strains of the virus.”

Haugen recommends that those able to should look into getting certain vaccines. Providers are currently offering this year’s flu vaccination, and it’s available for anyone six months or older. Haugen would highly recommend getting this vaccine, especially if you’re over 65 or have any chronic conditions such as heart issues or diabetes. She also recommends the 2023-24 COVID-19 booster. As long as they’re 12 years or older, even those who did not receive the first COVID-19 vaccine can get this booster. All three FDA-approved boosters are equally recommended.

RSV, which has been discussed more in medical communities over recent years, is most common in winter time and usually affects children and people ages 60 and older, Haugen shared. There is a vaccine approved for adults 60 and older and another for pregnant individuals at 32-36 weeks to give antibodies to the fetus. There’s also a vaccine for infants under eight months born in RSV season. Haugen recommends talking to your physician regarding these RSV shots.

“We’re a small community of people (in Perham),” Haugen said of the importance of vaccines. “Not only do vaccines protect yourself, but they protect the people in your life and in your community. We have a smaller hospital. We saw with COVID that when people get really ill, we hit capacity with things. Getting vaccinated decreases the likelihood that (your illness will be) severe … Grandparents who are in your life who are immunocompromised just by age, little kids, people who are immunocompromised with cancer or chronic illnesses — most people can get vaccinated, but some people can’t. And having people around them vaccinated is really helpful.”

If you’re established with a primary care provider, you can call their office to set up a visit to receive your vaccines or chat about any questions or concerns. For a COVID-19 booster or a flu vaccine, you can always have a nurse visit at a clinic or go to a pharmacy like CVS or Thrifty White.

To get in contact with Perham Health, call 218-347-1200.

“If people are worried or scared or confused or upset about vaccines, providers always want to talk about that and be able to have an open conversation about that,” Haugen finished. “If you have questions, don’t write it off. Look online and do your research but then see your provider and talk about them. Providers are very happy to discuss concerns and questions that you may have — how it’s made and why we feel like it’s appropriate to get.”

Elizabeth Vierkant, Forum Communications Journalist

About Perham Health 

Perham Health is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital with three primary care clinics, a 96-bed nursing home, home health care agency, adult day services, memory care assisted living, and senior housing.  The medical staff consists of 24 physicians, a nurse midwife, 14 advance practice clinicians, and three chiropractors. Visit perhamhealth.org to learn more.