Every year a new flu vaccine is available with the infection control unit highly suggesting that people take the vaccine. The vaccine is always available at the general practitioners for a small fee as well as at Health Centres free of charge. One hears a lot of myths about this vaccine, ranging from that taking the vaccine useless, to the vaccine making you sick. Below we will tackle the most common myths and hopefully you will have a better understanding on the vaccine.
Myth #1: You will catch the flu from the flu vaccine
Truth: The vaccine contains an inactive flu virus and therefore does not have the ability to infect you. If you get sick it is most probably from other viruses which produce similar symptoms to the flu.
Myth #2: The flu is not a serious illness
Catching the flu can lead to serious complications such as: pneumonia , which in severe cases may lead to death . This is quite rare to healthy individuals but there is a higher chance of experiencing these complication in children and elderly and those who are immunocompromised
Myth #3: The flu vaccine will make you immune to colds and there is no need to worry of contracting a cold.
Influenza and colds are produced from different viruses, the influenza vaccine only protects you from Influenza. If you are infected with any of the cold viruses, you will still get symptoms. In any case one needs to be vigilant to prevent getting infected.
Myth #4: The flu vaccine doesn’t work since I still got the flu.
There are multiple strains of influenza viruses and the vaccine only contains 3-4 strains. If the virus has changed along the way, the influenza vaccine will not protect you against the new strain. Also the body takes about two weeks in order to become immune to the strains present in the flu vaccine.
Myth #5: Getting the influenza vaccine every year will weaken the immune system.
Since you are exposing the body to the virus, the immune system will respond to it and in fact it will be stronger since it will better prepared once a live influenza virus has entered the body.
Apart from protecting yourself against the influenza virus, another reason to get it is to indirectly protect people who cannot take the influenza vaccine. It is therefore a selfless act to take the influenza vaccine and help those who are in need.
