According to Jason Alexander, his mother was a nurse who specialized in everything from pediatrics to geriatrics.
“She founded and directed a nursing school in New Jersey, where I grew up, at the conclusion of a long career in which she practiced virtually every type of nursing imaginable. She was a surgical nurse. She was an emergency room nurse. She was a nurse in private practice “Alexander told Insider in an interview. The best thing was that everyone in my family received exceptional care whenever they required it.
However, there was a drawback to her considerable knowledge of healthcare: No sick days, regardless of how skilled an actress you are.
He stated, “You could not fake an illness with my mother.” “I don’t believe I ever missed a day of school due to illness – I would occasionally try to be creative by putting the thermometer on the radiator in the middle of the night and then calling her in, but she would respond, ‘I don’t believe you have a 104-degree temperature.’”
It makes logical that Alexander has collaborated with Not Today, Flu, a campaign that attempts to help individuals in the United States locate flu vaccines swiftly and conveniently.
He claims that taking a flu shot is now a regular part of his wellness routine, but that this was not always the case. He stated that, like many others, he was unaware of its significance and accessibility.
He learned the value of the influenza vaccination the hard way.
Alexander stated, “When I was in my twenties, I was unaware of it and probably believed, like many do in their twenties, that they are invulnerable and that nothing could harm them.” In 1989, however, he contracted the flu and it nearly derailed his career, as well as the careers of the other cast members of “Jerome Robbins’ Broadway.”
He stated, “It was possibly terrible.” “I was performing in a New York production titled “Jerome Robbins’ Broadway,” which was the season’s biggest smash. Despite the extremely huge ensemble cast, it might be said that I had a pivotal role. It was Tony voting season, so all of the Tony voters attended the performance, and I suddenly became ill.”
He had not had the flu vaccine that year. Additionally, he suffers allergies and asthma. According to him, if he doesn’t take care of himself early on when he has a respiratory condition, it tends to get severe — and it was difficult to find time to recuperate while performing on Broadway.
“I missed between four and six performances due to bronchitis while all the Tony voters were in town,” he explained. “Forget my nomination; the show had to triumph. These triumphs are essential for a show’s longevity. So, with six performances remaining, the producers began calling and yelling, “Get your behind on that stage!””
He fought his way through a week of concerts despite suffering from bronchitis, something he believes he could have prevented if he had received the flu vaccine in the first place.
He ultimately won the Tony Award for finest performance by a leading actor in a musical that year.
Since receiving the flu vaccine annually, he has not had the flu.
Soon thereafter, he relocated to California to film the 1989 pilot for “Seinfeld.” He stated that he subsequently found a different doctor and has received the vaccination annually since.
Alexander stated, “Every year during my yearly checkup, which typically occurred in late October, he would say, ‘I’m going to give you your flu vaccination.’”
He said that he has not contracted influenza since that time.
Given that we’re currently dealing with the pandemic, he’s fully aware that people are tired of hearing about vaccines, but it doesn’t make them unimportant.
“I’m aware that there’s a lot of burnout, but this immunization is quite simple to obtain,” he remarked. “There’s no reason to put yourself in a position where you could contract severe influenza; most people can receive it for free at their local pharmacy.”
And if you do become ill, whether with the flu or something else, he offers recommendations for that as well.
“One of the finest things you can do for yourself, and arguably the only positive aspect of your situation, is to stay in bed. You rest, you sleep, and you let others to take care of you a bit “he remarked. “Allow your body a rest.”
And if all else fails, soup mode is always an option.