The start of the fall season brings beautiful leaves, pumpkin flavored drinks, and yes, the flu. Each year millions of people contract the flu in the United States. While many of them recover safely at home, there are many who end up in the hospital with severe complications or worse.
The safest and most effective way to reduce the impact of the flu is by getting the flu vaccine each year.
Can the flu shot give me the flu?
Since the flu shot only contains partial or inactive (not live) flu viruses, it cannot infect you with influenza. Many people experience symptoms similar to the symptoms of the flu after they receive the shot like fatigue, muscle soreness, and a fever, however, this is just a symptom of the vaccine rather than the flu itself and symptoms often resolve within a few days.
Why do I need the flu shot every year?
The flu is a unique illness because it rapidly changes each year. Other illnesses like measles, HPV, and chickenpox don’t mutate like the flu so your immune system can recognize them throughout your life. With the flu, it’s like a burglar who uses a different mask when he breaks in every year. Your immune system needs help to recognize him.
Since the flu shot contains recognizable, but not harmful, parts of the flu virus, it’s like giving your body the opposing team’s playbook before the game even starts. The vaccine allows your body to recognize the predicted flu strains for the year and begin creating antibodies to fight against them. That way, when the flu virus tries to cross the line of scrimmage, your body will already have a play, ready to counter its attack.
Does the flu shot actually work?
Yes! But maybe not in the way you think. The flu shot effectively reduces your risk of getting the flu but does not reduce that risk to zero. However, if you are vaccinated and do get the flu, the symptoms are often much less serious and do not often result in hospitalization.
It’s like wearing a seatbelt in a car. Wearing it doesn’t ensure that you’ll never get in a crash, but it reduces your risk of death significantly if you do get in a crash.
I’ve never had the flu. Why should I get vaccinated?
That’s great! However, past years without illness don’t guarantee future protection. Each year you receive the flu shot you reduce your risk of catching the flu and hospitalization.
More importantly, the more you lower your risk of catching the flu, the better you protect those around you who can’t receive the vaccine (like babies under 6 months old).
What are the side effects?
Common side effects of the flu shot include:
- Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Mild fever
Serious reactions are extremely rare but do happen. These only happen once or twice per million doses administered, which are the same odds you have of being struck by lightning in any given year. However, your risk of being hospitalized by the flu is significantly higher: about 1 in every 1,000 people.
Conclusion
The flu shot is a safe, effective way to keep yourself and others protected from a potentially life-threatening illness. As flu season begins, consider speaking with your healthcare provider or local pharmacist about getting vaccinated. A few minutes today can help prevent serious illness later this season.
– Health West is a nonprofit community health center offering medical, dental, behavioral health and pharmacy services. You can walk into any one of our 18 locations to get your flu shot.
