Topic Overview
Many people choose not to have the influenza vaccine because of myths
they believe about the disease or the vaccine.
Myth: Influenza is a minor illness.
Truth: Influenza and its complications cause
about 20,000 deaths in the United States each year.
Myth: The vaccine causes the flu.
Truth: You can't get the flu by having a flu
shot. The flu shot is made of killed virus and therefore
cannot cause the flu. And the weakened viruses in the flu nasal spray vaccine can cause symptoms similar to a cold, but they can't cause the flu.
Myth: The vaccine causes unpleasant side
effects.
Truth: The vaccine causes no side effects in
most people. Earlier vaccines (1940s to 1960s) did have more
unpleasant side effects, but this is rare now.
Myth: The vaccine is ineffective because some
people had a flu-like illness after getting a flu vaccine.
Truth: Although getting the vaccine prevents
most people from becoming ill with the flu, some people still become infected.
This may occur because a person is exposed to the virus before getting a
vaccination or before it has taken effect, or because the vaccine does not
match the circulating virus closely enough. A mild illness similar to a cold also can be caused by the live, weakened viruses in the influenza nasal spray vaccine. But any illness is usually
milder than it would be without having had the vaccine.