The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that all individuals over six months of age receive an annual flu vaccine, with very rare exceptions.
Despite this, many people choose not to vaccinate themselves or their family members against influenza. Below are some common misconceptions about the flu shot.
MYTH:
I have never gotten a flu shot, and I have never gotten the flu, so I must not need it.
FACT:
Even if you have never been so unlucky as to have influenza, you remain at the same risk of influenza as the average adult, and stand to gain the same benefit from vaccination.
MYTH:
I got a flu shot once and it gave me the flu.
FACT:
False! It is not possible to get the flu from the flu shot, because the virus in the shot is dead, meaning that it cannot cause illness. However, it is common for a person to have some achiness and a low-grade fever for one to two days following the shot — this is just the response of your immune system to the shot as it makes the correct antibodies to protect you from the flu. If you got sick shortly after the flu shot, it could be that you were exposed to the flu in the two weeks before or after vaccination (it takes two weeks for the vaccine to be effective) or that you had another, unrelated illness — such as the common cold, which is not covered by the flu shot.
MYTH:
It hurts / I am afraid of needles.
FACT:
The achy shoulder from a flu shot is mild compared to the body aches and fever you will have from the flu itself. Most people feel sick for about seven days with the flu, whereas the soreness from the shot lasts only one to two days.
MYTH:
I am allergic to eggs.
FACT:
You may still qualify for a special type of flu vaccine that does not contain egg products. Talk to your doctor.
MYTH:
The flu isn’t that bad, I’ll be fine if I get sick.
FACT:
Many adults and children die from the flu every year, even healthy adults with no medical problems. Thousands of individuals are admitted to the hospital every year for treatment of the flu. Even if you have a mild version, it can still put you out of commission for a week or more, much more than the common cold.
MYTH:
I heard that the vaccine isn’t very effective, and I can still get the flu if I get the shot.
FACT:
Each year the vaccine is based on the genetic composition of the previous year’s flu strains. Since influenza genetically mutates often, the vaccine can never be perfect. However, people who get a flu shot and then subsequently catch the flu, have a much less severe illness than those who did not get a shot, and are less likely to be admitted to the hospital or have complications of the flu.
MYTH:
I stay away from sick people and wash my hands a lot, so I don’t need the shot.
FACT:
People with the flu are usually contagious before they have symptoms, and can transmit the virus to you before they become ill. Part of the reason you should get the shot is to protect the people around you. Children under five and adults over 65 don’t respond as well to the shot, so it is important for their family/friends to be vaccinated to avoid transmitting the flu to them.
MYTH:
I’m pregnant.
FACT:
Even more reason to get the shot! Pregnant women are more likely to have complications of illness, and should be prioritized for the flu shot if there is ever a shortage.
MYTH:
I’m afraid of autism.
FACT:
Autism has not been definitively linked to any immunization and should not be a barrier to the flu shot.
Get your flu shot every year, preferably before November 1. You can get the shot at your doctor’s office or at most pharmacies.
Thanks for taking the time to learn the facts about the flu shot! Please visit https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm for more science-based information about the flu shot.