HealthLinkBC File #12c, September 2012
Influenza (Flu) Immunization: Myths and Facts
EnglishThe influenza or flu vaccine is a safe and effective way to help people stay healthy, prevent illness, and even save lives. The influenza virus can cause serious illness and even death in people with certain chronic health conditions. The influenza vaccine is the best protection against influenza illness and its complications.
Many people use the term flu to refer to any illness caused by a virus, such as stomach flu or the common cold. However, the influenza virus causes illness that tends to be more severe than other viruses.
This HealthLinkBC File provides information on the myths and facts about influenza and influenza immunization.
Myth:
Influenza is not a serious illness.
Fact:
In years when influenza is widespread in B.C., hundreds of people may die from influenza or its complications, such as pneumonia. Influenza can lead to serious illness in seniors over 65 years and in other high risk groups.
Myth:
I have never had influenza, so I do not need to get the vaccine.
Fact:
Influenza viruses change or mutate often. Most people can get sick with influenza several times during their lives. An influenza vaccine is the best protection against the influenza virus.
Myth:
The influenza vaccine can give me influenza.
Fact:
The influenza vaccine or flu shot given by needle cannot give you influenza. The vaccine primarily used in B.C. contains dead influenza viruses that cannot cause infection. Common reactions to the influenza vaccine or flu shot may include soreness, redness and swelling where the vaccine was given. Other symptoms can include fever, headache and aching muscles that may last 1 to 2 days. A live influenza vaccine that is given as a nasal spray is also available in B.C. and contains weakened influenza viruses. The live vaccine gives better protection to children. However, as a precaution, some people such as those with severe asthma or weakened immune systems should not get this live vaccine. Common reactions to the live vaccine in most healthy people include mild symptoms, such as runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, sore throat and fever.
Myth:
The influenza vaccine causes severe reactions or side effects.
Fact:
The influenza vaccine is safe. Most people only have redness or soreness where the flu shot was given. Some people, especially those who get the flu shot for the first time, may have muscle aches or tiredness. People who receive the live influenza vaccine, which is given as a nasal spray, may have a runny nose, nasal congestion, cough sore throat and fever. These symptoms are less severe than those from influenza infection and last a shorter time.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a rare condition that can result in weakness and paralysis of the body’s muscles. It most commonly occurs after infection, but in rare cases can also occur after some vaccines. GBS may be associated with influenza vaccine in about 1 per million recipients.
Myth:
Getting an influenza vaccine every year weakens my immune system.
Fact:
The influenza vaccine boosts your immune system to protect against the virus, instead of weakening it.
Myth:
I should not get the influenza vaccine because I have allergies.
Fact:
Most people with allergies can get an influenza vaccine without any problems. However, if you have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the influenza vaccine or to eggs or any other component of the vaccine, talk to your health care provider. You may need to be tested for allergies before being immunized.
Myth:
The influenza vaccine protects against the viruses or bacteria that cause colds or stomach illnesses.
Fact:
The vaccine does not protect against the viruses or bacteria that cause colds or stomach illnesses, often called the stomach flu. The influenza virus is very different and causes more severe illness than the common cold or the stomach flu. Influenza vaccine only helps protect against the viruses that cause influenza.
Myth:
The vaccine does not work because I still get influenza or the flu.
Fact:
There are many different types of viruses year-round that can cause flu-like symptoms, but these are not actually the influenza virus.
The influenza vaccine protects against the 3 strains of influenza viruses that health experts think will likely cause influenza during the flu season. It does not protect against other viruses that cause similar illnesses, like respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV or parainfluenza. Because the influenza virus strains change most years, you need to get the influenza vaccine each year to be protected against new strains.
When the strains in the vaccine are well-matched to the strains of influenza virus in the community, the vaccine prevents influenza in more than 7 out of 10 immunized persons. In elderly people and people who have certain chronic health conditions, the vaccine may not prevent influenza completely but may decrease symptoms, complications and the risk of death from influenza.
Myth:
I am pregnant and should not get the influenza vaccine.
Fact:
The influenza vaccine is considered safe at any stage of pregnancy. Women in the second half of pregnancy are at higher risk of hospitalization due to influenza, especially those in the third trimester. For this reason, women who will be in the third trimester of pregnancy during the influenza season should be immunized. As well, women at any stage of pregnancy who have chronic medical conditions are also at higher risk of serious influenza complications and should be immunized. The vaccine considered safe for use in pregnancy is given by injection. The safety of the live influenza vaccine given by nasal spray has not been established during pregnancy. Pregnant women or those intending to become pregnant should receive the influenza vaccine or flu shot given by needle, which contains dead influenza viruses that cannot cause infection.
Myth:
I am a nursing mother and should not get the influenza vaccine.
Fact:
It is safe for babies to breastfeed after mothers receive the influenza vaccine or flu shot. Nursing mothers should receive the influenza vaccine or flu shot given by needle, which contains dead influenza viruses that cannot cause infection.
For more information, see the following HealthLink BC Files:
#12a Why Seniors Should Get the Influenza (Flu) Vaccine
#12b Facts about Influenza (the Flu)
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For more HealthLinkBC File topics, visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca/healthfiles/ or your local public health unit. Click on www.HealthLinkBC.ca or call 8-1-1 for non-emergency health information and services in B.C. For deaf and hearing-impaired assistance, call 7-1-1 in B.C. Translation services are available in more than 130 languages on request. |
