When the flu season begins during the late fall of each year, you may hear doctors or health officials remind the public to get their annual flu shots. However, many people have asked, “If the vaccine is effective, then why do people need a new one each year?”

       According to medical experts, people need a yearly flu shot because the virus that causes the flu is constantly evolving. The virus, known as influenza, can cause a wide range of uncomfortable symptoms, from a mild sore throat to severe muscle pains. For some demographics, such as the elderly or the overweight, getting sick with the flu can be deadly.

       Since the outer structure of the influenza virus changes all the time, epidemiologists must work hard to develop new vaccines based on new strains of the virus in order for them to be effective. At influenza surveillance centers around the world, new strains of the virus are reported and analyzed each year. Around February, the World Health Organization (WHO) decides which of these strains are most likely to be prominent in the coming year. Scientists then get to work to produce a new vaccine before the next flu season arrives. It’s also important to remember that the body’s immune system is constantly developing as well； it’s not just the influenza virus that is changing. That means a vaccine that might have been effective last year is likely to be useless after 12 months. That’s why experts recommend getting a new flu shot yearly to protect yourself and others.

       Remember: the vaccines not only alleviate the worst symptoms of the virus but also help reduce transmission of the viral disease throughout the population.

       Nowadays, many people are trying to lead more energy-efficient lives to protect the environment. One particularly useful thing people can do is purchase an electric car. Most people are aware that electric cars are far more energy-efficient than traditional fuel-burning cars. However, what they may not realize is that once they have bought an electric car, the music they listen to while driving also affects their energy consumption.

       An experiment conducted by a South Korean car manufacturer in 2022 invited a number of drivers to drive their new electric cars. The company asked the drivers, who were all new to electric vehicles, to drive their cars over an 18-mile distance, inclusive of a traffic jam moving along at a glacial pace, country roads and expressways with dual lanes.

      Some of these drivers were instructed to listen to Beethoven while driving. Others were required to listen to a range of pop artists, such as Kanye West and Adele. The results revealed that the relaxing nature of Beethoven’s music resulted in those cars using less battery power than the cars whose drivers listened to pop music. This is because pop music tends to have a higher tempo and heavier beat.

       So, if you own an electric car but still want to make a greater environmental contribution, you can listen to your favorite piece of classical music. _____, if you don’t care about power consumption and want to drive faster, just put on some fast-paced pop tracks!