1. Flu Shot Quiz (True Or False)
Nga is giving them an 8 question quiz to work on while others are still arriving.

2. The flu is just a bad cold.
True or False?
The flu is just a bad cold.

3. FALSE. Influenza may cause bad cold symptoms, like sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, hoarseness, and cough, but it is worse than the common cold.
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs.
5-20% of Americans get the flu each year.
In the U.S. alone, tens of thousands die from flu, on average, each year.
More than 200,000 are hospitalized each year for respiratory and heart conditions and illnesses associated with seasonal influenza virus infections.

4. Flu Signs and Symptoms Fever Aches Chills Fatigue, weakness Sneezing
Stuffy nose
Sore throat
Chest discomfort
Cough
Headache

5. True or False? A flu shot might actually cause
a person to get sick with the flu.

6. FALSE. A flu shot CANNOT cause flu illness
FALSE. A flu shot CANNOT cause flu illness. The injected vaccine is made from a killed virus and it is not possible for a dead virus to make you sick.
Reasons you might get sick after the flu-shot:
The vaccine did not have time to provide full immunity. It takes maximum effect two weeks after you receive the shot.
You have another “flu-like” illness. (e.g. common cold, pneumonia, bronchitis, stomach flu)
Flu vaccines that are administered with a needle are currently made in two ways: the vaccine is made either with 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).
The nasal spray flu vaccine is made from an inactivated live virus. Although this vaccine uses a "live" virus, it is inactive, meaning it can't spread through your body and make you sick. Both vaccines work as a primer for your immune system. They "show" your body what the influenza virus looks like so your immune system can develop antibodies to it and you will be able to fight it off without getting sick if you are exposed to it later in the season.

7. True or False?
Flu shots don’t work.

8. FALSE. Although flu vaccines are not 100% effective, they are the best protection we have against the flu, and getting one at least gives you some protection.
For those that get the flu vaccine and still get the flu, symptoms are typically more mild than they would be otherwise and you are less likely to develop complications or be hospitalized.
In an average year, flu vaccines are about 60% effective. This can vary depending on a person's age and health, the strains of influenza that are circulating and how well matched they are to the strains of influenza included in the vaccine.
Even if they don't work for everyone, the more people that get flu vaccines, the more people that will be protected. That's how herd immunity works. If a majority of the population is vaccinated, it reduces the number of people that can get sick.
This makes it less likely that those that can't be vaccinated (due to age or other contraindications) come into contact with the virus at all. Unfortunately, only about 40% of the US population gets the flu vaccine each year, making it very difficult for those people to rely on herd immunity to keep them safe. If more people would get the vaccine, they would be protecting not only themselves but also those around them.

9. You should not get a flu shot
True or False?
You should not get a flu shot
during pregnancy.

10. FALSE. It has been proven safe for pregnant women and their unborn children in numerous studies. Pregnant women can get a flu shot during any trimester of their pregnancy.
The flu shot can even provide protection from the flu for the child for up to six months after birth. This is great news since infants under 6 months old cannot get a flu shot.
The flu can make anyone really sick, but certain groups of people are more likely to suffer complications and serious illness than others. Among those at highest risk are pregnant women.
Pregnant women are more likely to get seriously ill from the flu, which can lead to complications for both the mother-to-be and her unborn child.
Possible Complications
During pregnancy, a woman's organs shift and the body functions differently in order to accommodate the growing baby inside her.
The heart and lungs work harder to provide both mother and child with the blood and oxygen they need. Because her body is working so hard to provide for the life inside her, most pregnant women are more susceptible to getting sick than women who are not pregnant.
In addition, if she does get sick, she is more likely to suffer more significant and unpleasant symptoms.
The flu is one virus that makes all of us feel miserable. But it can leave a pregnant woman even sicker, hospitalized or even result in death for the mother and/or unborn child. The flu can also lead to preterm labor and delivery for the baby, which can cause any number of other complications, depending on how far along the pregnancy is.

11. Healthy people need a flu shot.
True or False?
Healthy people need a flu shot.

12. TRUE. Even though influenza is most threatening to the very young, the elderly, and people with underlying illnesses, it can still cause severe symptoms in otherwise healthy people.
Getting a flu shot is better than getting the flu.
Getting vaccinated reduces the risk to those around you that might not be as healthy or able to fight off the virus as well as you.
Getting vaccinated can reduce the risk of more serious flu outcomes such as hospitalizations and deaths.
Many adults believe they don't need flu vaccines because they "never" get the flu. If you are otherwise healthy, you aren't as likely to develop complications or die from the flu, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't get a flu shot.
Getting a flu shot is better than getting the flu. Even if you think you will be able to recover from it - do you really want to spend a week in bed feeling miserable? A day or two of minor side effects are much better than a week or more with the full-blown flu.
Another benefit of getting vaccinated is that you reduce the risk to those around you that might not be as healthy or able to fight off the virus as well as you. Unless you never leave your home, you take the chance that you could expose people at high risk for flu complications to the illness if you get it. Even if you stay home when you are sick, you are contagious with the flu starting a day before your symptoms appear, so you could be spreading it without even knowing it.

13. Who should get vaccinated?
Everyone 6 months of age and older!
Especially people at high risk for developing flu-related complications:
Children younger than 5
Adults 65+
Pregnant women
People with chronic health conditions
Medical conditions including asthma, neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions, chronic lung disease, heart disease, blood disorders, endocrine disorders, liver disorders, metabolic disorders, weakened immune system due to disease or medication, people younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy, people with extreme obesity (BMI of 40 or more).

14. True or False?
You can get a flu shot
if you have a cold.

15. TRUE, as long as you don’t have a fever.
If you do have a fever (over 101 degrees), wait until it has been gone for 24 hours without taking any fever reducing medications before you try to get your flu vaccine.
The recommendation is that you do not get a flu shot when you are moderately to severely ill or have a fever. If you have just a minor illness, you can still get a flu vaccine, but anything more serious and you should hold off until you are better.
But why this recommendation? What will happen if you get a flu shot when you are sick?
There are actually two possibilities.
It could take you longer to recover from your illness
if you are already sick when you are vaccinated, your immune system is already hard at work trying to fight the germs that have caused that illness. This means it will be harder for your body to develop antibodies to the flu virus at the same time. It could mean that it will take longer for you to recover from your illness as your immune system tries to do double duty.
Your body may not respond as well as it should to the flu vaccine.
If your body is busy fighting off a different infection, it may not develop strong enough antibodies to influenza in the vaccine, which could result in an increased chance that you could still get the flu.

16. You can’t spread the flu
True or False?
You can’t spread the flu
if you’re feeling well.

17. FALSE. 20% to 30% of people carrying the influenza virus have no symptoms. Adults can be contagious from the day before symptoms begin through 5 to 10 days after illness starts.
You can prevent the spread of flu by doing the following:
Avoid close contact.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your mouth and nose.
Clean your hands.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Practice other good health habits.
1. Avoid close contact.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
2. Stay home when you are sick.
If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others.
3. Cover your mouth and nose.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Sneeze into your sleeve and not your hands. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
4. Clean your hands.
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
6. Practice other good health habits.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
A healthy lifestyle is the foundation to lowering your risks of contracting and experiencing serious complications from the flu.
Diets high in sugar and processed foods lead to systemic inflammation which reduces the effectiveness of your immune system
Eat plenty of whole foods, vegetables and healthy lean proteins
Get 7-8 hours of sleep every night
Reduce stress through exercise, meditation and taking time to relax with friends and family

18. You need a flu shot every year.
True or False?
You need a flu shot every year.

19. TRUE. The influenza virus changes (mutates) every year.
The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine!
Getting vaccinated each year is important to make sure you have immunity to the strains most likely to cause an outbreak.
Flu viruses are constantly changing, and different flu viruses circulate each season. Flu vaccines are made each year to protect against the flu viruses that research indicates will be most common. This is why everyone needs a flu vaccine every season.

20. Flu Shot Facts The flu is worse than a bad cold.
A flu shot cannot cause a person to get sick with the flu.
Flu shots are the best protection against the flu.
Pregnant women can get the flu shot during any trimester of their pregnancy.
Healthy people still need a flu shot.
You can get a flu shot if you have a cold.
You can spread the flu even if you’re feeling well and do not have symptoms.
You need a flu shot every year.

21. Where can I learn more about the flu and flu vaccines?
You can learn more about the flu by checking out the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) website:
Talk to your health care provider.