Flu Vaccines: The Myths and Facts

When it comes to vaccines, there are a lot of myths out there. Many people hear things about vaccines, either from friends, neighbors, coworkers, even celebrities on television, that just are not true. It is important for a person to know the facts about vaccines before they make a decision about whether or not their kids should get the vaccines. One of the newer vaccines that people are often confused about is the flu vaccine. There are a lot of myths surrounding the flu vaccine. This article will distinguish the myths from the facts.

Myth: getting the shot can give the person the flu

Fact: If a person gets the flu shot, it will not give them the flu. The flu shot contains a dead flu virus so the person getting the flu shot cannot get the actual flu. They may, however, feel some soreness where they received the shot. The spot where the person got their flu shot could also get a little red. These side-effects usually go away in only a day or two. It is very rare that anyone has had any serious problems from their flu shot.

Myth: a person can’t get the flu vaccine after October

Fact: It is recommended that people should get the vaccine before flu season. Getting the vaccine in October or November is a good idea. But if someone does not get their flu vaccine before flu season they can still get vaccinated. It is possible for a person to get their flu shot as late as December or January.

Follow your doctor’s advice regarding flu vaccines.

Myth: getting the flu shot may not even stop a person from getting the flu

Fact: While it is still possible for someone to get the flu after they receive the flu shot, much of the time, if a person gets the shot it will protect them from the flu. Scientists are never perfectly sure that the strain of flu they have chosen to make the vaccine from is the actual strain of flu that will circulate that year. But if they do choose the correct strain of flu virus then the shot will usually be around 70 to 80 percent effective in preventing the flu.

Myth: Only a small amount of the population needs to get vaccinated for the flu

Fact: The flu does not just affect older adults. The flu can actually make a lot of people very sick. Children and adults who have diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, asthma, and heart disease should be sure to get a flu shot. It is also recommended that infants and children who are older than six months and younger than five years old should get a flu shot every year.

Myth: the flu is not worse than the side effects from the vaccine

Fact: The side effects from the flu vaccine are actually not as bad as people may think. The worst side effect that most people experience from the flu vaccine is that their arm gets sore. If a person gets the nasal mist instead of the shot for their flu vaccine they could experience a runny nose, a sore throat, a cough, and/or nasal congestion. There is always a slight risk for a more serious reaction to a vaccine. But for the flu vaccine, the risk for a serious allergic reaction is actually less than one person in four million.