Myth-Busting the Flu Vaccine!
No, it’s not perfect. But it’s the BEST way to prevent the WORST of influenza.
Myth: Getting the flu shot will give me the flu.
FALSE.
When you receive any vaccine, including the flu shot, the vaccine components activate your immune system. The injected flu vaccine contains inactivated (killed) parts of the influenza virus that tricks your immune system into thinking that the live virus has invaded your body. This enables your body to make antibodies against 3 to 4 strains of influenza, so that if/when you encounter the actual virus, your body can fight it off more efficiently. When your immune system gets activated by the vaccine components, it is normal to feel a little different than your norm. Almost everyone will get soreness in the muscle where they got the vaccine. Some people will get a brief fever. Others may get a mild feeling of tiredness or “blah.” But none of these symptoms are an actual influenza infection, and as you’re not infected, you can’t get other people sick. These symptoms after vaccination are normal and brief, and are NOTHING compared to the symptoms you’d have if you actually got infected with influenza.
There is a nasal vaccine (FluMist) that instead of containing inactivated components has “live-attenuated” vaccine. This vaccine does contain live virus. For this reason, this vaccine should never be given to someone who has a compromised immune system, asthma or chronic lung disease. Indeed, this vaccine is not as effective as the injected flu vaccine, and it’s the less preferred vaccine to be given.
Myth: The flu shot will expose me to dangerous chemicals.
FALSE.
All vaccines contain small amounts of additives to make them as effective as possible and optimize the shelf life of the vaccine. Every ingredient in a vaccine is closely monitored, and only the minimal amount needed is included in the vaccine. In every case, the amount of an additive is less than what we are exposed to as a part of normal daily living, and do not pose an additional risk to you or your child.
Myth: I am healthy. I don’t need the flu shot.
FALSE.
Every year, thousands to millions of healthy children and adults are admitted to the hospital with influenza. Even if you do not have chronic medical conditions, you get can influenza, and be severely affected.
What’s just as important is: the more healthy people who get the flu vaccine every year, the less likely influenza will spread through your community and affect those who are at INCREASED risk of severe influenza: people with asthma, chronic heart and lung disease, immune deficiency, infants less than 6 months of age and the elderly.
Myth: I have a mild allergy to eggs. I can’t get the flu shot.
FALSE.
The flu vaccine is safe for the vast majority of people with egg allergies. Only those people who have severe systemic reaction to eggs (called anaphylaxis) need to be selective with which flu vaccine they receive. Even those with anaphylaxis to eggs can get specific formulations of the flu vaccine.
Myth: My child is too young to get the flu shot.
FALSE, unless your child is less than 6 months old.
The flu vaccine can be given to EVERYONE who is 6 months of age or older. The dosing strategies change with age. For example, young infants who are getting the flu vaccine for the first time need 2 doses of the flu vaccine that first year. The elderly require a higher dose of flu vaccine for it to be effective. But everyone else just needs 1 flu vaccine every year to keep them as protected as possible.
Myth: Even if I get the flu shot, I can still get the flu.
TRUE.
The flu vaccine is not 100% effective, but can prevent up to 3 out of 4 vaccinated people from getting the flu. The efficacy changes every flu season, and this is why: every year, the flu vaccine is made based on the prominent flu vaccine strains that circulated that year. Then the flu vaccine is given the fall to winter of that year. However, because it is impossible to predict exactly which flu viruses will actually circulate, the efficacy of the flu vaccine varies widely.
The good news is, even if the flu vaccine efficacy is low for a given year, if you receive the flu vaccine you’re much less likely to be hospitalized with the flu, and your influenza illness duration is much more likely to be short.
Courtesy of: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/2018-2019.html
Myth: I don’t have time to get a flu shot.
FALSE.
Do you have time to be sick? No!!! Getting the flu shot takes minutes of your time. If you or your child gets sick with influenza, you’re likely to be ill for 3-7 days, during which time you cannot go to work or school. And, if you do get influenza after having had the vaccine, you will likely have a shorter, less severe duration of illness. Getting the flu shot will save you time.
Myth: The flu shot costs too much.
FALSE.
Insurance covers the flu vaccine. Many pharmacies give the flu vaccine for free, and some will actually give you a gift card for getting your flu vaccine!!!
Myth: I can always get it later.
FALSE.
The optimal time to get your flu vaccine is by the end of October every year. In most areas of the United States, influenza strikes in December. However this can vary year to year. Because it takes about 2 weeks for the flu vaccine to become fully effective, we recommend getting the flu shot early, and being prepared. However, if your tardy in getting your vaccine, it’s better late than never. And, it’s possible to get infected with more than 1 strain of influenza in a given year. Influenza A usually strikes first in the flu season, and influenza B often circulates later. So even if you had an influenza infection in January, you should still get your flu shot, because that can prevent influenza later on in the season with a different strain. Just get it!
Written by Dr. Rosey Olivero
Pediatric Infectious Diseases physician
Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer
Inspired Biometrics
10/13/19