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The flu vaccine is a safe and effective way to help people stay healthy, prevent disease, and even save lives. The flu virus can cause serious illness and even death among people with certain chronic diseases.
Here are 14 common myths about the flu vaccine:
1. Flu is not a serious disease
Depending on the severity of the strains, the flu kills up to 650,000 people each year. Many people use the term ″flu″ to refer to a cold or other respiratory illness. Most people will recover in a few weeks, but some may develop complications, including sinus and ear infections, pneumonia, inflammation of the heart or brain. Flu is a serious illness that can lead to hospitalization and death, especially among people whose immune system is vulnerable, such as people over the age of 65 and children.
2. In the case of flu, antibiotics will cure you
Antibiotics are given to fight bacteria, but they are not effective for a viral infection like the flu. Taking antibiotics for the flu puts you at unnecessary risk of side effects. This may also contribute to antibiotic resistance in the future.
3. You have never had the flu, so there is no need to get vaccinated
Just because you have been lucky in the past does not mean it is going to be the same this year. Most people can get the flu several times in a lifetime. A flu vaccine is the best protection against the flu virus.
4. The flu vaccine can cause the flu
The flu shot vaccine is made from an inactivated virus that cannot transmit the infection. An inactivated virus is grown in a laboratory and then killed; the dead virus may not make you sick, but it helps your body become immune to the living virus. While the nasal spray flu vaccine contains a live virus, it is weakened so that it does not cause the flu. Some people may have a mild fever or runny nose, but it is a normal immune system reaction to the vaccine and generally lasts only a day or two. People who get sick after getting the flu shot are going to get sick anyway. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to start preventing the flu.
5. The flu vaccine can cause severe side effects
The flu vaccine has been shown to be safe. Severe allergic reactions to the flu vaccine are very rare. They usually appear within minutes to hours after vaccination. Although these reactions can be life-threatening, effective treatments are available. The flu vaccine can occasionally cause side effects, such as mild pain, fatigue, headache, or fever. Like other injections, the most common side effect is minor discomfort or pain at the injection site. Severe side effects are extremely rare. One in millions of people may suffer from Guillain-Barré syndrome, which causes muscle weakness and paralysis.
6. Healthy people should not get vaccinated against the flu
The risk of severe complications from the flu is higher if you have a chronic illness. But even strong and healthy people can get very sick. Everyone over 6 months of age, including pregnant women, should be vaccinated against the flu. Flu is a contagious disease and can lead to serious illness, including pneumonia, or even hospitalization for otherwise healthy people.
7. You got vaccinated against the flu and still got the flu
The flu vaccine protects you against the strains of the flu virus that health experts believe will cause the flu during the flu season. Because the strains of the flu virus change every year, it is important to get immunized every year to be protected against new strains. There are many different types of viruses that can cause flu-like symptoms at any time of the year, which is why people can get sick despite being vaccinated. In the case of the elderly and people with certain chronic diseases, the vaccine may not completely prevent the flu, but it can reduce the symptoms, complications, and risk of death from the flu. Vaccinated people who get the flu usually have milder symptoms than those who do not.
8. Pregnant women should not get the flu vaccine
Pregnant women should get the flu vaccine because their immune system is weaker. The inactivated flu vaccine is safe at any stage of pregnancy. The theory that the flu vaccine causes miscarriage has been argued. However, what is true is that the flu itself causes miscarriage. Women in the second half of pregnancy have a higher risk of hospitalization due to the flu. Women in any stage of pregnancy who suffer from chronic diseases are also at a higher risk of serious complications from the flu and should be vaccinated. The administration of the flu shot vaccine during pregnancy protects even the baby from the flu for many months after birth. This is especially important because infants under the age of 6 months cannot get the flu vaccine and are more likely to have serious complications from the flu.
9. If you are breastfeeding, you should not get the flu vaccine
It is safe for babies for nursing mothers to get the flu vaccine.
10. The flu vaccine is the only one that can protect you from the flu
There are several steps you can take to protect yourself during the flu season, in addition to vaccination. Avoid contact with sick people, wash your hands frequently, and consider taking antiviral medicines if you have been exposed to the flu before vaccination.
11. You cannot spread the flu if you feel well
20% to 30% of people with the flu virus have no symptoms.
12. You do not need to get the flu vaccine every year
The flu virus changes every year. Vaccines are reviewed every year and updated as needed. To protect yourself and others from the flu, you need to get the flu vaccine every year because the vaccine becomes less effective over time.
13. Chicken soup will speed healing
Hot fluids soothe sore throats and provide the number of fluids you need in the healing process. However, chicken soup has no other specific qualities that can help cure the flu.
14. If you have allergies, you should not get the flu vaccine
Most people with allergies can get the flu vaccine without any problems. However, if you have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of flu vaccine or any component of the vaccine, talk to your doctor. You may need to have an allergy test before getting the flu vaccine. People who are allergic to eggs can be safely immunized with the flu vaccine.
If you want to find out about thermal spring water, check out our article on this topic: 9 health benefits of thermal spring water.
[Photo from Pixabay]
