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10 common myths about the flu shot

Just as the flu starts circulating, so do rumors about the vaccine. It’s important to know what’s true.

Every fall, the flu virus starts circulating…and so do a slew of myths, rumors, and half-truths about this nasty illness and the vaccine designed to prevent it. They spread from person to person, just like influenza itself. All the misinformation gives loads of people easy reasons not to get the flu vaccine.

The flu is a significant public health issue that commonly affects literally millions of Americans each year. Virtually every health institution, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to the World Health Organization (WHO), recommends that healthy people 6 months of age and older get an annual flu shot. So, it’s important to separate fact from fiction.

RELATED: Flu shot survey

Flu shot benefits

In addition to decreasing the risk of serious illness from the flu, there are many benefits of getting the flu shot. Here, is what the CDC says:

  • Flu prevention: The flu shot can keep you from getting sick from flu viruses.
  • Avoid hospitalization: Getting vaccinated reduces the risk of hospitalization and death from the flu.This is also true among young children and older adults.
  • Milder symptoms: If you do get the flu, being vaccinated reduces the severity of the illness.
  • Reduced complications due to chronic illness: In individuals with heart disease, the vaccine can reduce the risk of a major cardiac event. In people with lung disease and diabetes, the flu shot reduces the risk of hospitalization caused by worsening of the chronic condition.
  • Pregnancy protection: The flu vaccine can protect pregnant individuals during and after pregnancy and can offer the baby protection for several months after birth. 
  • Prevent the spread: Getting the flu shot is the best way to protect others around you because you are less likely to spread the virus when vaccinated.

Flu shot myths

  1. The flu shot will give you the flu
  2. I never get the flu, so I don’t need a vaccine
  3. The flu is just a bad cold, so the vaccine is unnecessary
  4. I don’t need a flu shot because I got one last year
  5. I’m allergic to eggs, so I can’t get the flu shot
  6. The vaccine is harmful or could cause serious side effects
  7. The flu shot isn’t 100% effective, so why bother
  8. You shouldn’t get the flu shot and the COVID shot together
  9. It’s too late in the season to get the flu shot
  10. The flu shot is too expensive

Read on to see how these concerns are fueled by myths—and why they shouldn’t deter you from the shot.

10 common—but misguided—reasons not to get the flu shot

We asked an infectious disease specialist and a primary care provider about ten of the most popular myths about the flu shot. Here’s what they had to say. 

Myth #1: The flu shot will give me the flu.

This is the myth that just won’t go away, “Can the flu shot make you sick?” No matter how many times healthcare professionals debunk it, plenty of people still believe that the flu shot contains a weakened version of the live influenza virus that will infect them with the flu in order to build up their immunity. And once again, it’s just not true. The flu shot isn’t dangerous.

“The flu vaccine doesn’t give you the flu because it’s a killed virus, not a live one,” says Christelle Ilboudo, MD, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Missouri Health Care system. “It can’t lead to disease.”

So why did you feel crummy shortly after getting the flu shot? Dr. Ilboudo says there are two likely explanations: one, feeling ill after the injection is a natural immune response common to many vaccinations, and two, you’re getting the shot at a time when viral illnesses abound. 

“Some people are already infected with the flu before they get the vaccine, so then they get sick [coincidentally right after the shot],” she explains. 

Additionally, the influenza vaccine takes two weeks to become fully effective—so you could be exposed to the virus before the vaccine is able to fully protect you from illness. Either way, though, the shot itself isn’t to blame.

Myth #2: I never get the flu, so I don’t need a vaccine.

Dr. Ilboudo says she hears this myth quite a bit, and though common, it’s not a good reason to skip the flu vaccination. Never having the flu before doesn’t mean you won’t ever get it—and your symptoms could include anything from mild sniffles and sneezes to low-grade fever, body and muscle aches, headache, sore throat, and cough, depending on how severely the virus affects you. 

Dr. Ilboudo also emphasizes that while your immune system might be top notch, the same can’t be said for everyone you come into contact with: “When you get a flu shot, you protect yourself and those around you who have a higher risk of flu complications, like asthmatics, diabetics, and pregnant women.”

Even if you’re the type to never get sick, there’s no guarantee this will hold true during flu season. What affects you as a minor illness could cause major problems for your immunocompromised family members, friends, coworkers, and neighbors if you spread it around.

RELATED: What groups are at high-risk for flu complications?

Myth #3: The flu is just a bad cold…why would I get a vaccine for it?

Speaking of minor illnesses, the flu actually doesn’t fall into that category. 

“Influenza is a deadly virus that kills thousands of people every year,” says Joshua Septimus, MD, an internist at Houston Methodist. “Influenza can also cause serious illnesses that require hospitalization, such as pneumonia.”

Since 2010, the CDC estimates anywhere from 140,000 to 810,000 flu-related hospitalizations have occurred every year and about 12,000 to 61,000 flu-related deaths annually in the United States. Meanwhile, Dr. Septimus explains, the common cold isn’t life-threatening and rarely results in  serious complications. 

RELATED: Cold vs. flu: What’s the difference?

Myth #4: I got a flu shot last year, so I don’t need another one.

The faulty thinking here lies in the way the seasonal flu vaccine works. According to Dr. Septimus, the viral strains that circulate each fall and winter change from year to year, and the immunizations distributed to doctor’s offices, health clinics, and pharmacies change, too (to target the flu strains predicted to spread the most widely that season). Even if the formulations didn’t change, Dr. Septimus says, the immunity provided by the influenza vaccination wanes over the course of the year. 

In other words, you can’t coast along on the benefits of last year’s shot. You should get a flu shot every year.

RELATED: Flu season 2020—Why the flu shot is more important than ever

Myth #5: I’m allergic to eggs, so I can’t get the flu shot.

Most flu shots produced today use an egg-based manufacturing process that leaves trace amounts of egg protein behind. So, many people with egg allergies assume the vaccine isn’t safe for them. Dr. Ilboudo says that’s not the case.

“The vaccine doesn’t actually contain eggs [in whole form], and people with mild egg allergies can still receive the vaccine,” she asserts. 

That said, if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to a flu shot before, you should talk to your provider before receiving one to avoid any unnecessary complications. Common symptoms indicative of an egg allergy include hives, nasal congestion, vomiting, and—rarely—anaphylaxis. If you have a severe egg allergy, the doctor may want you to receive the immunization in a medical facility, such as a doctor’s office or hospital, where they can recognize and manage any potential severe allergic reactions. 

Myth #6: The vaccine is harmful or could cause serious side effects.

We’ve all heard rumors about the “toxic chemicals” present in vaccines and how they can cause serious side effects, including autism (a theory that has been disproven repeatedly but still spreads in certain circles). But Dr. Septimus says there are no harmful ingredients in the flu shot and these reasons not to get a flu shot are just baseless rumors.

“This is a common myth promoted by anti-vaccine fringe elements—the same people responsible for the [2019] deadly measles outbreak,” he asserts. “The most common side effect of the flu shot is a sore arm and more serious side effects are vanishingly rare.” 

For more information on adverse effects to vaccines, search the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System

Myth #7: The flu shot isn’t 100% effective, so why bother?

On average, the flu shot lowers the risk of flu illness by 40% to 60%, according to the CDC. Some people interpret that as a vaccine “failure,” and use it as an excuse to skip the shot. While the flu vaccine effectiveness varies, it’s important to remember that no medical intervention is 100% effective. Some protection is always better than no protection.

“Even in a year where the vaccine is only 50%  effective, that’s a 50% reduction [in illness],” says Dr. Septimus. “If a medical intervention would reduce the risk of a heart attack by 50%, we would all choose it!”

Myth #8: You shouldn’t get the flu shot and the COVID-19 shot together.

It’s perfectly safe to get the flu vaccine at the same time as the COVID-19 shot, according to the CDC. To equip your body with the best defense, it’s important to get both vaccines. That’s because the flu and COVID are two different viruses, so a flu vaccine won’t protect you from COVID-19, and vice versa. That said, a recent study among 30,000 healthcare workers suggests that a flu vaccination could reduce the severity of COVID-19, but more research is needed to fully understand the correlation.

Myth #9: It’s too late in the season, it’s not worth it.

The ideal time to get a flu shot is early fall, in September or October. But even if you miss that window, it’s not too late to get the vaccine—no matter what time of year it is. Although generally, flu season occurs between December and February, the length and severity of a given flu season is unpredictable. 

Typically, flu season peaks in February but can continue well into May. That’s why even if you wait until spring, it’s still beneficial to get vaccinated. And even if you’ve already had the flu this season without being vaccinated, it still pays to get the shot because it protects you from additional strains of the virus.

Myth #10: The flu shot is too expensive.

If you have health insurance, the flu shot is required to be covered –with no copayment–under the Affordable Care Act. But check with your provider first, because you may need to go to a specific location to get the vaccine.

If you’re uninsured, there are multiple options to get a free or discounted flu shot. Children under the age of 19 are eligible to receive the vaccine for free under the Vaccines For Children (VFC) program. For older people, federally funded health centers offer vaccinations on a sliding fee scale based on your income.You can also contact your state’s health department to find out about free and low-cost vaccinations.

If you’re unable to obtain a free flu shot, compare prices at singlecare.com to find the lowest priced options, and use our coupons to save even more. 

Who shouldn’t get the flu shot

Almost everyone should get the flu shot, but there are a few exceptions. They include: 

  • Infants under 6 months of age: Children in this group are too young to get vaccinated for the flu.
  • Those allergic to any of the vaccine’s ingredients: Some individuals are allergic to components of the vaccine, such as gelatin or other ingredients and should not get the vaccine (ask your provider for advice). However, if you are allergic to egg, let your provider know, because egg-free options are available.
  • Past severe allergic reactions to the flu vaccine: People who have experienced life-threatening allergies to the flu vaccine should avoid the vaccine in the future. Contact your healthcare provider if you have experienced a severe allergic reaction to the flu vaccine in the past.

If you still have concerns, it’s best to speak with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about how to alleviate your fears around the flu shot.