There are some myths that are keeping people from getting a flu shot!
Yahoo! Health says the flu shot prevented 5 million cases of influenza last year.
Here are some myths about the shot that just are not true.
Myth: The flu shot gives you complete protection right away.
Truth -- the seasonal flu shot protects against the three strains that researchers think will be dominant that year. It takes up to two weeks for your body to gain protection after being vaccinated.
If you're exposed to the virus shortly before getting vaccinated or while you're waiting for your immune system to ramp up, or if you encounter another strain of the virus after you've had your shot, you can still end up with the flu.
Myth: You don't need the flu shot every year.
Truth: Dominant flu strains change, so researchers must reformulate the seasonal flu shot every year -- which means that last year's shot may not protect you from this year's most-prevalent virus.
Myth: Only elderly people need the flu shot.
Truth -- healthy people who are at low risk still spend time around family members who are much more susceptible to the virus.
If you have young children at home, or if you're a caregiver for anyone in a high-risk group, your getting the flu shot helps protect them as well.
Myth: Seasonal flu is annoying but harmless --—it feels like a bad cold, that's all.
Truth -- there are several key differences between the flu and a bad cold. If you have a sore throat and a runny or stuffy nose, it's likely that you have a common cold, not the flu.
Myth -- the flu shot is safe for everyone.
Truth: Babies younger than 6 months old and people who have had Guillain-Barre Syndrome should not receive the seasonal flu shot.
Myth: You can get the flu from a flu shot.
Truth: The flu shot is an inactivated vaccine, which means that the virus on it has been killed.
It's enough to trigger your immune system to start making antibodies, but you can't get an actual infection.
The nasal spray version of the shot, contains a weakened form of the active virus, and while you can end up with some flu-like symptoms from it, it still won't give you the flu.
Myth: If you've already had the flu, you don't need a flu shot.
Truth -- Just because you've caught one type of the virus doesn't mean you're immune from the other. Getting the flu shot could stop you from suffering through a second round.
Myth: Flu shots protect against the stomach flu.
Truth -- While seasonal flu can sometimes cause vomiting and diarrhea in children, it's very rare for adults, so the flu shot does not stop you from ending up with a "24-hour flu" or a "tummy bug."
Myth: Only doctors can administer flu shots.
Truth: You can safely get the flu vaccine in many drugstores and health clinics around the country, even without an appointment.
Myth: You shouldn't get the flu shot if you're already sick.
Truth: Check with your doctor first, but most experts agree that as long as you don't have a fever of more than 101 degrees, it's safe for you to get a flu shot even if you're sick.
Myth: If you make it to November without catching the flu, then you don't need the vaccine.
Truth: Flu season usually peaks in February, and flu vaccines are often still available in December and January.
There's still time to minimize your chances of getting the flu this season.
The CDC website, however, recommends that you get the seasonal shot as soon as it becomes available in your community, even as early as August.