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Myth: i’ve never had the flu so i don’t need a shot. I also am tall, good looking and fluent in several languages. Fact: No one is naturally immune to the flu – no matter how blessed you may be in other areas of your life. Just because you haven’t gotten the flu before doesn’t mean you won’t. Get your vaccine to protect yourself and those around you.

Michelle Shirer is making a commitment. You might think that as OhioHealth’s director of Creative Services, her commitment is to OhioHealth’s latest advertising campaign or building our brand. But in addition to her responsibilities at work, Michelle’s taking on an even

5 flu vaccine myths debunked Think you don’t need the vaccine? Think again.

“Visualize yourself as healthy and don’t give up.” OhioHealth associate starts lifestyle journey as UpFront follows her along the way

Myth: The cousin of a friend of my sister’s husband’s boss got the flu from getting the vaccine. Fact: That didn’t happen. It can’t, and it won’t. The flu vaccine contains only dead virus — dead. As in not alive and unable to infect you. The nasal vaccine FluMist does contain live virus but that virus is specially engineered to remove the parts of the virus that make you sick.

Myth: i’m young and healthy. Why should I get the vaccine? I’ll worry about it when I’m old. Fact: Ah, youth. Just because you are young doesn’t mean you have to be naïve. If you are in good health, you may recover from the flu faster, but you still will put people at risk who have weakened immune systems. The flu vaccine is the best protection.

entire OhioHealth community to keep her accountable. “It’s motivating me to get my act together and take the next step,” she says. Michelle is realistic about her approach — setting small goals to start with long-term goals in mind. “I want to institute a continuous program that I can achieve and build on,” she says. “I want to start with 20 minutes of cardio and make sure I get five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.” She’s quick to acknowledge that getting healthy is about lifestyle and not a finish line, and references OhioHealthy programs that will help her achieve a lifestyle change.

Myth: i don’t work directly with patients. I’m not going to get anyone sick even if I do get the flu. Fact: Unless you are planning on staying inside and away from all human contact this flu season, you need to get the flu vaccine no matter where you work in OhioHealth. You come into contact with people who come into contact with patients — whether at the bedside or just walking through a hospital. We all are responsible for protecting our patients.

“I want to be healthier. I want to be a good example for my 10-year-old daughter.” — Michelle Shirer

“They bring yoga classes right here to my worksite at 180 [E. Broad St.], which makes it really convenient,” she says. She also plans to take advantage of OhioHealthy benefits including free consultations with exercise physiologists and nutritionists, as well as various programs that are discounted for employees. “There is so much available here to help you make a change,” she says. “I really believe OhioHealth cares about me being healthy because they make it easy and non-threatening. And there is a lot of encouragement and support.” As she mentions her recent biometric screening, she reveals just how dialed in she is about her upcoming journey. “BMI, weight measurements… I’ll want to see improvements there. It’s about visualizing yourself as healthy and not giving up.” And with a designer’s eye, Michelle surely has a clear vision in mind.

Be sure to check out Michelle's progress in future issues of UpFront.

bigger challenge: staying committed to her own health and wellness. Preparing to celebrate two years with OhioHealth and looking ahead to her 40th birthday, Michelle is ready to make a change.

“I’d have good intentions, but then I’d get busy and not stick with it,” Michelle says about efforts in the past to improve her health. “I want to be healthier. I want to be a good example for my 10-year-old daughter.” Michelle agreed to allow UpFront to track her progress over the next year in her journey. It also means she’s enlisting the

Myth: i had a flu vaccine during the last presidential election. I’m protected, right? Fact: Getting the flu vaccine in 2008 was a great thing to do…in 2008. But the flu isn’t like measles or other diseases that can be prevented by a long-term vaccine. The particular strains of the flu that are dominant change, so every year a new vaccine has to be created, and every year you need to get it.

All OhioHealth associates, physicians and volunteers are expected to receive an annual flu vaccine and complete your Flu Vaccine Status Form by Dec. 16. Visit to learn about how you can be entered to win a gift card just for getting your vaccine.