Flu vaccines help reduce your risk of getting seasonal flu, but there are many myths about them. Learn more about these myths and why they are wrong.
Getting an annual flu vaccine significantly lowers your chance of becoming sick from the influenza virus. You might have heard some misconceptions about these vaccines that should be clarified.
Myth:
Flu vaccines can make you sick.
Fact:
Flu vaccines contain inactivated viruses, which means they cannot give you an active flu infection. If you experience coughing, body aches, and other flu symptoms after getting your vaccine, this indicates that you were exposed to the virus before being vaccinated. Since flu vaccines take roughly two weeks to fully protect you, it is possible to become sick during this timeframe. The only side-effects you might experience from flu vaccines are redness and soreness at the injection site, a low-grade fever, headaches, and muscle aches.
Myth:
Flu vaccines are not needed every year.
Different strains of the flu are active each year. This means that if you were vaccinated last year, you are not necessarily protected from the strains going around this year. It is important to get a flu vaccine at your community pharmacy every year to make sure you have protection from the current flu strains. Each year, new flu vaccines are made to protect against the most common strains that are going around.
Myth:
Getting the flu is safer than getting the flu vaccine.
Fact:
Flu vaccines rarely cause serious reactions, making them very safe to get for most people. Although the flu is usually a mild illness for many, it can cause potentially life-threatening complications, such as pneumonia. These complications do not just affect the elderly, infants, and people with weakened immune systems. They can also occur in otherwise healthy individuals, resulting in hospitalization. Keep in mind that getting flu vaccines also means that if you do get the flu, it should be a much more mild case.
Myth:
Flu vaccines are all you need for flu protection.
Fact:
While flu vaccines are very effective at preventing the flu, you still need to take steps to lower your risk of this illness during flu season. This includes washing your hands often, staying away from those who have the flu if possible, and avoiding touching your nose and eyes. If you think you were exposed to the flu before getting your vaccine, you might want to take anti-viral medication.
Myth:
It is too late to get the flu vaccine if you wait until November or later.
Fact:
You can still benefit from getting a flu vaccine, even later in the season. Flu season generally starts in September or October and lasts until spring. Getting vaccinated after October still gives you plenty of protection from the flu throughout flu season. Just keep in mind that being vaccinated early during flu season offers the best protection all season long.
If you are looking for a pharmacy with flu vaccines, please contact Smith-Caldwell Drug Store in Benton, AR by calling (501) 392-5470.
