Editor’s note: This article originally ran September 11, 2019, and was updated September 11, 2024.
Flu season is fast approaching, but there’s one thing you can do now to help yourself avoid the misery: Get a flu shot.
The flu shot is an effective way to reduce your risk of flu and your chances of being hospitalized with severe illness. However, fewer than half of adults in the United States get the shot each year, and while the rate is slightly higher for children, it’s still not where it should be.
That may be because there are misconceptions about the flu vaccine. We talked to UNC family medicine specialist Ram Neelagiri, MD, to learn facts about the flu shot.
1. Flu shots really do work.
Each year, the flu shot is formulated to best match the strains of flu likely to circulate that season. Some years are better matches than others. During the last season, people who were vaccinated were 42 percent less likely to get the flu than unvaccinated people.
Most importantly, even if you do get the flu, getting vaccinated reduces the risk of being hospitalized or dying from complications related to the illness, Dr. Neelagiri says. Tens of thousands of people die from the flu each year, and hundreds of thousands are hospitalized.
2. Flu shots won’t give you the flu.
Flu vaccines are sometimes made with a flu virus, but not a live one.
“There’s no way a flu shot can cause a flu infection,” Dr. Neelagiri says. “These vaccines are made up of inactivated viruses or recombinant viruses, not live viruses.”
The most common side effects of the flu shot are soreness, redness or swelling at the site of the injection. While rare, you could get a low-grade fever that passes in a couple of days.
3. Healthy people still need a flu shot.
Of the millions of people who get sick with flu each year, many of them are otherwise healthy. But the flu still leads to discomfort, missed school and work, and the risk of spreading it to at-risk populations, such as older adults and people with chronic illness, who may not recover so easily.
“Healthy people interact with more vulnerable people,” Dr. Neelagiri says. “Protecting yourself can help protect others.”
4. You need a new flu shot each year.
“The virus keeps changing every year, so the vaccine you got last year may not be effective this season,” Dr. Neelagiri says. Flu viruses can change from one season to the next, and they can even change within a flu season.
Also, the body’s immunity to flu viruses, whether acquired naturally or through a vaccine, will decline over time. Getting the shot each year is the best way to stay ahead of the virus.
5. Pregnant women should get a flu shot.
Pregnant women are at higher risk of flu-related complications than the general population and should receive a flu shot. (Also, it’s no fun to be sick when you’re pregnant.)
“The vaccine not only protects the pregnant woman, but also the newborn who will be receiving the antibodies from the mom,” Dr. Neelagiri says.
That’s especially important because children can’t get a flu vaccine until they are 6 months old, and young infants are at higher risk of severe illness.
6. You can’t treat the flu with antibiotics.
“Flu is a virus. Antibiotics are good for bacterial infections, but not effective against flu,” Dr. Neelagiri says.
Most people with the flu have mild illness and don’t need medical care. However, those with more serious illness or those in high-risk groups (people over the age of 65 or younger than 2, people with chronic medical conditions and pregnant women) may get a prescription for an antiviral drug. In severe cases, the flu can lead to bronchitis, pneumonia and even death.
7. If you’re allergic to eggs, you can still get a flu shot.
According to the latest recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even though most flu shots contain a small amount of egg protein, you do not need to take any special precautions with the flu vaccine if you are allergic to eggs.
Severe reactions are highly unlikely and extremely rare, but everyone, regardless of egg allergy status, should be vaccinated somewhere where a medical professional can respond to a reaction if needed. That’s why vaccinations happen at doctor’s offices, community clinics and pharmacies.
8. The best time to get a flu shot is now.
The flu shot is recommended throughout the flu season. The timing of flu is unpredictable, and the virus can be detected year-round. However, seasonal flu activity often begins as early as October and continues through May, with peak months between December and February.
Doctors recommend getting vaccinated in September or October to maximize effectiveness, but it’s never too late.
“Getting a flu shot is the best way for people to protect themselves and their loved ones against the flu,” Dr. Neelagiri says.
Need a flu shot, or have more questions? Talk to your doctor or find one near you.The post The Truth About Flu Shots first appeared on UNC Health Talk.
