Influenza infection caused by influenza types A and B is one of the most serious respiratory infections. The seasonal flu shot protects against three to four common influenza viruses for each upcoming season.
Early flu symptoms,
- Muscle pain
- Dry cough
- Sore throat
- Nasal discharge
Almost 5-20% of United States population is infected with the this virus and around 200,000 people are hospitalized each year for flu complications.
The influenza season starts in the fall and lasts until February.
Fine, but what makes this virus so dangerous?
The problem with the influenza virus is that it changes its character and face frequently. Therefore, regular annual vaccinations are an important public health matter.
We have a considerable resistance to vaccination in our society mostly build on myths, inaccurate information and irrationality.
Let’s analyze few of the flu shot myths and learn more about the influenza infection.
1) Can you get flu from flu shot?
This is one of the common flu shot myths I have heard during my many years of practicing medicine. Many people who are resistant to get vaccinated may have experienced or saw somebody else experiencing a significant respiratory infection and flu-like symptoms after receiving the shot.
I can understand the concerns when one experiences these kinds of incidents. The flu vaccine is made from inactivated virus and can’t actively make anybody get an influenza infection.
It’s possible that an individual would get sick with and without receiving the shot. The flu vaccine doesn’t and shouldn’t be the cause of the infection. I call the flu vaccine, in these cases, nothing more than an innocent bystander. I also understand the difficulty of convincing a person who had experienced this kind of illness after receiving an influenza shot to try it one more time.
Flu shot side effects
I believe that it’s important that we know all the facts. The flu vaccine shouldn’t give you the flu but it could cause an upper respiratory infection, cough and nasal congestion, which are less severe than the real influenza. It is the old challenge to weigh the risks and benefits of any decision.
Hopefully, the above facts will help you in making the right decision.
2) I got flu shot, I’m totally protected now
The standard flu vaccine may only protect against three or four strains of the virus that are commonly seen in that specific year. If you get another strain, which isn’t part of the shot, you may end up with the infection.
3) I don’t care about flu vaccine
What would happen if everybody follows the same path? The flu infection is transmitted from one person to another person. If we don’t do our part we may end up hurting ourselves and others. It’s like if somebody insists that he doesn’t believe in changing the tires or brakes of his car. But if the tire explodes or the brakes fail not only the driver but many other people will pay for this wrong decision.
One person’s decision especially when this person is in close contact with vulnerable people can change other peoples’ lives.
4) Only sick people will transmit the flu
Many people who aren’t sick can transmit the influenza, so a person who you’re meeting today and looks very “healthy” may pass on a load of the virus. These people may never get sick. That’s why pinpointing the source of the infection can very challenging. It’s usually useless anyways. After you get the virus, who really cares where you got it from?
5) I can get flu only if somebody coughs into my face
That would be easy, right? But as you know nothing is so simple. It’s a common misunderstanding that the influenza can only be transmitted by coughing or sneezing into somebody else’s face and month. But it’s not true. You can get the influenza by touching a surface which is already covered by the virus and transferring it into your mouth, nose or eye.
6) I had one shot three years ago
I can understand the source of this misconception in many people. Most other vaccinations are given once or twice during a person’s life. The flu shot is the only one that requires an annual vaccination and the reason for that’s simple. The character of the influenza virus changes every year. As a result, a shot that was effective last year may not be effective this year. I know it can be a hassle but unfortunately that’s how it works.
7) Can I skip the flu shot? I’ve an egg allergy
No, a flu vaccine, marketed under the name Flublok, doesn’t have any ingredients such as Thimerosol, antibiotics, egg protein or latex. This is good news for all individuals who have an allergy to egg products and are counting the days until they can get their vaccine.
8) The flu shot will work right away
We know that in real life, few things work right away. The influenza shot isn’t too different. According to studies, it takes around 14 days for the flu shot to provide some protection against the specific influenza viruses. So that’s why it’s important to get the shot early in the flu season to assure early protection.
How much do you know about Tamiflu? Read the following article “Does Tamiflu Work Against Flu?”