Common influenza shot myths



Send iReport photos of your influenza presence kit.

(CNN) — Flu vaccine misconceptions can upset people perplexing to confirm possibly to get a shot. Here are 5 common misconceptions and, formed on information from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a truth.

1. The shot can give we flu

Not so, says a CDC.

The viruses in influenza shots are killed during a prolongation of a vaccine, that means they can’t means infection. The vaccine batches are afterwards tested, with a organisation of people incidentally reserved to get possibly a vaccine or salt water.

“The customarily differences in symptoms was increasing tenderness in a arm and redness during a injection site among people who got a influenza shot,” a CDC found. “There were no differences in terms of physique aches, fever, cough, runny nose or bruise throat.”

Still, some people feel bad after a influenza shot. Soreness during a injection site is one reason, yet it customarily dissipates within dual days. It’s caused by a defence complement creation antibodies to a killed viruses in a vaccine that assistance a chairman quarrel off a flu.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices says symptoms, in singular instances, embody fever, flesh pain, and annoy or weakness, that also typically go divided after a day or two.

And, yet a influenza shot won’t give we a flu, a insurance doesn’t flog in for dual weeks from a time of injection. During that time, we are vulnerable.

In addition, it’s easy to upset anniversary influenza for an illness caused by a series of other pathogens, including rhinovirus. Or we competence be unprotected to a influenza pathogen that is not enclosed in a vaccine. Finally, a influenza shot does not always work — quite among a aged and people with diseased defence systems. But even among these high-risk groups, a vaccine can forestall complications.

2. It is improved to get a vaccine after in a deteriorate to extent the risk that a efficiency will wane

No. The shot lasts an whole influenza season, solely for some children who competence need dual doses. The CDC recommends that all people comparison than 6 months get a influenza vaccine.

3. The influenza shot competence adversely impact my pregnancy

No. The influenza vaccine is “an essential component of prenatal care” and is endorsed for all profound women, according to a American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Pregnant women are among a groups during increasing risk for influenza complications like pneumonia, infections and dehydration.

Though babies can’t be vaccinated until they have reached 6 months of age, antibodies they perceived in utero from their mothers competence assistance strengthen them. But note that a organisation recommends opposite a nasal mist — a live, dragging chronicle — for profound women.

The CDC says anniversary influenza vaccine shots have not been shown to means mistreat to profound women or their babies.

4. I’ve had a influenza before and it was no large deal, so move it on

No. Seasonal influenza exacts a bigger fee in some years than in others: Between 1976 and 2007, a influenza was related to a low of 3,000 to as many as 49,000 fatalities in a United States, with some-more than 200,000 hospitalizations.

There are dual categorical reasons: The viruses that disseminate in one year competence differ from those that disseminate in another. And, of course, people change from year to year, definition that your response to a viral infection one year competence not be a same as your response in another.

5. The influenza shot doesn’t work

It doesn’t work all a time, yet it does consult some turn of protection. For example, a CDC says rough information for a 2010-2011 deteriorate uncover that it was about 60% effective for all age groups combined, and studies for progressing years found insurance rates of adult to 90%.


  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • email
  • StumbleUpon
  • Delicious
  • Google Reader
  • LinkedIn
  • BlinkList
  • Digg
  • Google Bookmarks
  • HackerNews
  • Posterous
  • Reddit
  • Sphinn
  • Tumblr
  • Tumblr
  • Tumblr