Many myths abound about influenza and flu shots, questions about the safety of the shots and as to whether the injection is necessary at all for those who call themselves healthy. Almost 57,000 deaths were blamed on influenza and pneumonia in 2013, and in the U.S.. the two illnesses were in the top 10 causes of deaths. Those deaths weren’t myths. Many of them could have been prevented by a seasonal flu shot or nasal spray. But there are many myths that prevent even the most educated from getting a flu vaccine.
For instance, a prevalent flu myth is that getting the vaccine will give you influenza or, subsequently, something worse -- like pneumonia. This perception is based on many factors, some coincidence.
All flu vaccines are either made of inactivated, noninfectious viruses or recombinant flu vaccines that contain no viruses at all. So the vaccination couldn’t give you the flu if it wanted to. Side effects were mostly chalked up to the placebo effect.
Another possible reason for this belief is that most of us cannot truly tell what it is that ails us, the flu or a cold. Many misread the signs and assume that a flu shot gave them the flu when it is allergies or a cold.
And because the flu shot can take up to two weeks to build up to full immunity, you may get sick before that in the ‘tweener time – while you assume that the shot gave you the flu.
Or the flu shot didn’t work or wasn’t as effective as for other years. Each year, researchers figure out which of three or four flu strains will comprise the flu vaccine and nasal spray. Some years, the researchers are more accurate with flu inoculation coverage than with other years. It is always a well-calculated guess. So for a particular person, the flu shot may well not have been effective as other years.
Some people think that the natural way of building up immunity to illness is to acquire it and then fight it off. But influenza is a serious respiratory disease that can lead to more serious conditions like pneumonia, bronchitis, or emphysema. It is also contagious, thereby putting your loved ones, neighbors and coworkers at risk should you get it and go about your daily life. And the infection affects the whole body, making you miserable for a week or two until it passes.
Others aren’t interested in the flu vaccine because they think it will weaken their immune systems. Nothing can be further from the truth. By introduction of weakened or dead virus types, one’s body is spurred on to create antibodies to fight off these viruses.
There’s a misconception that pregnant women shouldn’t get the flu vaccine. In fact, it is safe for infants older than six months, immune-system compromised individuals and pregnant women. In fact, it is safer for these groups to get vaccinated rather than get the flu because it could set off further medical problems. But one must keep in mind that for this group, nasal sprays are to be avoided. Nasal sprays contain weakened, or attenuated, form of the virus, not dead forms.
Then there’s the myth about dangerous chemicals in the vaccines. Thimerosal is one of those. It is believed to be allied with mercury by those who are against vaccinations. But it is one letter different from the kind of mercury found in fish that can accumulate in the human body. Thimerosal breaks down within a week and then is eliminated.
Formaldehyde is another “dangerous” chemical tainting flu vaccines. This compound is used to inactivate the virus so it cannot make anyone sick. It also occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables. A banana has more formaldehyde than a flu shot. Also, our body manufactures formaldehyde for the creation of amino acids. We have more naturally circulating formaldehyde in our blood than is present in a shot. So an inoculation will make little difference to a healthy body.
Flu vaccines also don’t cause Alzheimer’s disease. At one time, it was thought that vaccines contained aluminum and that caused Alzheimer’s. But there is no aluminum in the flu shot. And about those rumors about Alzheimer’s disease? Untrue. In fact, those seniors who received the flu, polio, tetanus and diphtheria vaccines had half the risk for developing Alzheimer’s. Since seniors are a high-risk group for flu complications and death, they should get vaccinated every year, specifically with a high-dose shot because of the greater protection afforded to them. It is thought that because of the aging process, immunity doesn’t last as long in seniors than in other groups. So a stronger dose is prescribed.
Another excuse for avoiding a seasonal flu shot is an egg allergy. Way back in time, there were only a few ways to create vaccines, and the most efficient way was by using eggs in the process. Nowadays, there are two available vaccines that are made without the use of eggs. One is a recombinant, which means pieces of one organism or DNA is combined with pieces from other organisms or DNA source to create the vaccine. The other is cell-culture based. Those who do not have severe egg allergies can get the regular shot. And there are other alternatives -- for those who are allergic to thimerosal, there is a vaccine without preservatives, and antibiotic-free vaccines are available. There is a chance of shock at the presence of gelatin in the vaccination, but this is extremely rare. If there is any chance of anaphylactic shock at all from the vaccine, it is prudent to get it at your allergist’s office.
So there you go -- a short list of myths and rumors about the flu vaccine. Remember, flu shots are safer than having the flu, and most of those myths you’ve heard about flu shots are just that -- myths.