‘I’m healthy, so I don’t need the flu shot’ and other myths about the flu vaccine you shouldn’t believe
As we move into fall, you might be feeling at the top of your game — you’ve made it a priority to exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet and get stress under control. Last summer, you barely had a sniffle. Plus, you’re one of those people who just doesn’t get sick very often. You might be wondering: Can I skip getting a flu shot?
Experts say you shouldn’t. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that anyone over the age of 6 months receive an annual flu shot, which not only protects against the virus, but also helps reduce odds of severe illness and protects vulnerable populations.
Read on as we bust the myth that healthy people don’t need flu shots and four other influenza misconceptions.
Myth 1: I’m healthy, so I don’t need the flu shot.
Fact: You might be healthy, but others around you, such as immunocompromised individuals or older people, are at risk for severe illness. In 2022, the last year data was available, nearly 6,000 people died of complications from influenza in the United States, according to the CDC. Further, it’s possible to spread the flu virus before you show symptoms — you might be infecting a vulnerable individual and not realize it. Getting the flu shot not only helps protect you but also those around you.
Myth 2: I got the flu after receiving the flu shot, so obviously the flu shot made me sick.
Fact: The flu shot contains an inactivated virus, which cannot give you influenza. If you are experiencing flu symptoms shortly after receiving your annual flu shot, there are a few different things that might be going on:
First, your immune system might simply be reacting to the shot — which is a great sign that your body is making antibodies to fight against the inactivated flu strains in your vaccine — and your symptoms will probably last only a day or two.
Second, you might have picked up the flu prior to getting the vaccine and symptoms might have taken a bit of time to show up.
Last, you could have contracted a different strain of the flu virus that your vaccine didn’t cover. There are many types, or strains, of the flu virus. Medical experts predict which strains are most likely to make people sick each year and make flu shots from those strains.
Remember: Getting vaccinated against the flu puts you at better odds of being protected from severe illness and stopping the spread of flu viruses to others who may have increased risk of severe illness should they get the flu.
Myth 3: Severe side effects are common with the flu shot.
Fact: Severe side effects are rare, and the flu vaccine is proven to be safe. One to two people out of a million may get Guillain-Barré Syndrome, according to the CDC, which causes muscle weakness and paralysis, but these cases are few and far between. It’s also possible to have an allergic reaction to the flu shot, so talk to your provider about any allergies you have or reactions to vaccines you’ve had in the past.
Myth 4: I’m pregnant, so I shouldn’t get the flu shot.
Fact: The inactivated flu vaccine is safe for pregnant women and their developing babies, and because pregnant people have weakened immune systems and are more likely to have severe illness with the flu, it’s especially important for a healthy pregnancy.
Myth 5: My child is healthy, so we don’t have to worry about a flu vaccine.
Fact: While infants younger than 6 months are too young to receive the flu shot, it is safe and effective for children older than 6 months. Even healthy children can get sick from the flu, and because children are less likely to have immunity against flu viruses, they’re more likely to get infected. Young children in childcare settings are in close contact with each other and more likely to not cover their mouths and noses when they sneeze or cough — ideal conditions for the spread of the flu virus. A flu shot can help prevent your kiddo from getting sick this flu season.
The CDC recommends that infants over the age of 6 months and all children and adults should get a flu shot every year.
Some people are at an increased risk of developing serious complications from the flu. It is extremely important that these people get the vaccine. They include those with:
Long-term heart and lung conditions
Endocrine disorders such as diabetes
Kidney or liver disorders
Weakened immune system from disease or medical treatment, including for example, people with HIV or AIDS, or those taking long-term steroids or medicines to treat cancer
Blood disorders such as sickle cell disease
It is also very important that others who have an increased risk of being exposed to the flu or are around people with increased risk for complications get the vaccine. This includes:
Health care providers and other staff who provide care in hospitals, nursing homes, home health and other facilities
Household members, including children, of people in high-risk groups
Find flu shots near you by using the CDC’s free tool, which also includes information on free vaccinations. Visit vaccines.gov to learn more.
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