Flu Shots Rebecca Anguiano

Common Misconceptions  Can a Flu shot/ nasal spray give you the flu?  Why do people feel sick after getting the flu vaccine?  Is it better to get the flu than the flu shot?  Why do people who get the shot, still get sick?  “It’s too much Money. There aren’t really any benefits to getting it anyway”.  “The flu is like a cold, it’s not a bid deal.”  “I am healthy and never get the flu, so I don't need to get the flu shot.”

What exactly is the flu? The “stomach flu” or influenza is usually described by: Vomiting Diarrhea Coughing Sneezing Chills Soar throat Fever But it’s actually a respiratory disease and not a stomach or intestinal disease. Since the flu virus actually lives amongst cold temperatures, this is when it can become severely airborne along the fall season.

What does the flu shot do? Can I get sick from it? No. It’s actually impossible to get sick from it. ”a) flu vaccine viruses that have been 'inactivated' and are therefore not infectious, or b) with no flu vaccine viruses at all (which is the case for recombinant influenza vaccine).” – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The Vaccine doesn’t actually have a LIVE virus. Some people might believe you can get the cold from the vaccine too, but the cold is something totally different.

Flu-mist? What does it do? Aside from the vaccine we have the Flu-mist or Nasal Spray, and just like the vaccine you can’t get sick from it. “The nasal spray vaccine cannot give you the flu. The viruses contained in the nasal spray flu vaccine are attenuated (i.e., weakened), which means they cannot cause flu illness. These weakened viruses are also cold- adapted, meaning they are designed to only cause mild infection at the cooler temperatures found within the nose” – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Why do people feel sick after getting the flu vaccine? Both the vaccine and nasal spray can’t stop you from getting sick entirely. They do have short lasting side effects: Vaccine: Soarness, redness, swellness at the spot. Low fever, and aches Spray: Runny nose Chough Chills Soar throat headaches

Why do people who get the shot annually, still get sick? People can get sick by other respiratory diseases (cold) and the flu vaccine only protects against the flu not the cold. It is possible to already have the flu before you get the vaccination or during the 2 week period it takes to develop immune protection. It’s also possible to be exposed to a different type of flu that the vaccine can’t seem to find a match for to protect against. Make sure your non allergic to the vaccine. The reaction can be very deadly.

“The flu is like a cold, it’s not a big deal.”  “The flu, is a severe respiratory illness that is easily spread and can lead to severe complications or even death.” – American lung Association  Flu is actually pretty serious among older adults (especially those with Asthma and Heart disease), and children.

“I am healthy and never get the flu, so I don't need to get the flu shot.” Even healthy people have a high risk of getting the flu. The virus “updates” itself every year, and gets worse as time goes by, so you really do need the vaccination annually.

“It’s too much money. There aren’t any real benefits to getting it anyway.” The SLCC One Card provides flu shots in the nearest SLCC Campus Clinic. The Salt Lake Health Department Clinics have programs for Low- income or uninsured patients, to get free flu shots. Or depending on your Pay stub it can cost $5-$30

Give it a chance!

Sources  vaccines vaccines  myths.html myths.html 