Flu Shot FAQs: Myths and Facts An infectious disease specialist answers your questions about flu shots. BY WENDELL HOFFMAN, MD, SANFORD HEALTH
A: No, you should get your vaccine as soon as they’re available. The flu season begins in October, and some years we see early peaks in November and December. The earlier you’re vaccinated, the better chance you’ll have of being protected from the virus throughout the year. As with any vaccine, it will take about two weeks to reach maximum antibody response. Q: If I got a flu shot last year, do I need to get one this year, too? A: Yes. There are constant changes in the makeup of the influenza virus, so getting vaccinated every year is highly advised.
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s a physician and specialist in infectious disease, each fall I prepare and advocate for all of my patients and colleagues to get a flu vaccine. And every year, there’s some skepticism or misconceptions that I try to dispel. Here are some commonly asked questions about influenza and the flu vaccine that you may have, too: Q: If I haven’t gotten the flu before, do I need to get a vaccine? Why? A: Yes, absolutely — for the same reason you put your seat belt on every time you drive, even if you haven’t had an accident. Q: The flu season can go until late spring — should I wait to get my vaccine?
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HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Q: Is it possible to get the flu after getting the vaccine? A: Not all strains of the flu are in the vaccine, so there’s still a chance you may contract influenza even if you’ve been vaccinated. However, we shouldn’t let perfect get in the way of good. Vaccination isn’t solely about prevention. There’s a generally accepted notion that vaccination may modify the severity of the flu. This is particularly important for people who are at an increased risk for complications of the flu, including those who are very young, very old, overweight or immunocompromised. The flu is a potential killer to those at risk for complications. Q: Are there side effects or risks of getting a flu shot? A: There are some minimal possible side effects of a sore arm, mild achiness, perhaps very low-grade fever. You can’t get the flu from the flu vaccine — just like you can’t get tetanus from a tetanus vaccine or hepatitis from a hepatitis vaccine. The vaccines in use this year are not live strains, so it is biologically impossible to get the flu from the flu vaccine. Also, there is absolutely no evidence that autism risk is tied to the flu vaccine, or any vaccine.
