Flu season is nearly upon us. To separate flu vaccine facts from fiction, we’ve compiled some flu basics to help you weather flu season and stay healthy.
If fall influenza (flu) trends in the United Kingdom, Japan, and China are any indication (and they usually are), the United States could be in for a potentially rocky few months. The best way to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community is by getting vaccinated for flu. Drawing upon resources from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Medical Association (AMA), let’s debunk some of the common myths about flu vaccines.
Fiction #1: Influenza is not serious so I don’t need the vaccine.
FACT: Flu is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death.
Every flu season is different, and flu can affect people differently, but during typical flu seasons, millions of people get flu, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands to tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes.
Flu can mean a few days of feeling bad and missing work, school, or family events, or it can result in more serious illness.
Fiction #2: The flu vaccine can give me the flu.
FACT: Flu vaccination can keep you from getting sick with flu.
The injected flu vaccine contains an inactivated virus that cannot give you influenza. If you feel achy or slightly feverish, it is a normal reaction of the immune system to the vaccine, and generally lasts only a day or two.
Flu vaccine prevents millions of illnesses and flu-related doctor’s visits each year. For example, during 2019-2020, the last flu season prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, flu vaccination prevented an estimated 7 million influenza illnesses, 3 million influenza-associated medical visits, 100,000 influenza-associated hospitalizations, and 7,000 influenza-associated deaths in the United States.
Fiction #3: Children don’t need the flu vaccine.
FACT: Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season with rare exceptions.
Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of serious complications from influenza. These include people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant women and children younger than 5 years, but especially those younger than 2 years old.
The CDC recommends three flu vaccines for people 65 and older. There is also a nasal spray flu vaccine for ages 2 through 49.
Fiction #4: I shouldn’t get a flu vaccine and other recommended vaccines at the same time.
FACT: Coadministration of vaccines, which refers to giving or getting more than one vaccine during a visit, is common clinical practice.
While there are some exceptions, most vaccines can be given at the same visit. Health care providers encourage people to get more than one vaccine they are due for at one visit, in case they are not able to return for additional vaccinations at a later time. The CDC provides guidance for coadministration of vaccines for young children, older children, and adults.
Fiction #5: I had the vaccine and still got the flu, so it doesn’t work.
FACT: Several flu viruses are circulating all the time, which is why people may still get the flu despite being vaccinated since the vaccine is specific to one strain. However, being vaccinated improves the chance of being protected from the flu. This is especially important to stop the virus affecting people with vulnerable immune systems.
Get Shots in Arms with Local Flu Vaccine Clinics
Offering free flu vaccines at local venues is a great way to spread the word about the flu vaccine while protecting people from influenza. Primary.Health makes it easy for communities, public health entities, employers, or other large groups to administer accessible testing and vaccines. Contact our Health Team today to get started.
Disclaimer: This blog content and linked materials are not intended as individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and should not be considered as such. Any readers with medical concerns should contact a licensed healthcare provider. This blog is provided for informational purposes only.
