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Myths about flu vaccines Each fall healthcare providers must combat misconceptions about vaccine safety and effectiveness. "Myths and misconceptions cause some people to miss getting vaccinated, and that puts them at risk," said Early County Health Department director Alida Ward. "Even worse, it puts their friends, neighbors, colleagues and loved ones at risk, and increases the overall risk of influenza in the community." One common mistaken belief is that flu shots cause the flu. "That doesn't happen," Ward said. "The viruses used in flu shots are dead." Confusion may arise because some people who receive the vaccination experience mild symptoms. "They may have a runny nose or body aches for a day or so after getting a flu vaccine and mistake that for the flu," Ward said. "But what is really happening is that their body's immune system is responding. It is a good sign." Another misconception occurs when people conclude the vaccine failed to protect them. What they don't realize is that flu vaccine prevents a few strains of influenza, not illnesses caused by other germs or other strains of influenza. Also, flu vaccine takes about two weeks to become fully effective, those exposed to flu during that window may indeed catch it. Plus, the vaccine is generally 70 percent to 80 percent effective in healthy people, so it is possible to be vaccinated but still catch influenza. "The positive side is that even when the vaccine doesn't prevent flu, it does reduce the risk of severe complications," Ward said. "That is important when you consider that a typical winter flu season affects 7 percent to 20 percent of the U.S. population, resulting in 114,000 hospitalizations and claiming 36,000 lives." Some people doubt vaccine safety, fearing it may contain harmful agents, she continued. "Flu vaccine is very safe," said Ward. "It is given to millions of people every year." The Early County Health Department has flu vaccine available. Seasonal influenza vaccinations are appropriate for: • All persons, including school-aged children, who want to reduce the risk of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting influenza to others • children 6 months to 4 years old • persons 50 or older • persons who might be at risk of Reye syndrome • pregnant women • persons with chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, hematological or metabolic disorders • persons with immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus) • persons with any condition that can compromise respiratory function • residents of nursing homes and other chroniccare facilities • health-care personnel • healthy household contacts and caregivers of children less than 6 months of age
Caution, persons with a history of severe allergic reaction to eggs or a previous flu shot; a history of Guillen-Barre Syndrome; or those who are ill and running a fever should not get a flu shot without talking with a doctor,Ward said.
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