Passport Health

Flu Myths Debunked!

It's getting to be that time of year again where more people are sniffling and coughing...and we all know what that means, flu season. You may be trying to decide whether or not to get a flu shot this year. Here are a few myths you should disregard when coming to your own decision regarding whether or not to get a flu shot this year1

The flu is just a bad cold: the flu kills up to 49,000 people each year. Unlike a cold, flu symptoms come on suddenly.

The flu shot causes the flu: 35% of people believe the flu shot causes the flu. But that's not true, according to the CDC, since the flu shot contains a "dead" virus. The most serious side effects of getting a flu shot include a headache, pain at the injection site, or wheezing and a runny nose.

New "combined" shots are more dangerous than the old version: the new flu shot that protects against both H1N1 and seasonal flu are made the same way as the old flu shot. Every year, vaccine makers include different viral strains that are likely to cause illness when developing flu vaccines.

Only sickly people need flu shots: this couldn't be further from the truth. Actually, the most vulnerable people, such as babies under six months old, aren't able to get a flu vaccination so they rely on those that are old enough around them to get vaccinated. If all the adults around a baby got a flu vaccine, then they would create a "cocoon" of protection from the flu around the baby.

Flu shots contain mercury: This is not true. Fears about mercury stem from a preservative called thimerosal, once commonly used in vaccines but mostly phased out since 2001. Thimerosal was used to prevent fungus growth or other potentially dangerous germs from contaminating flu vaccines. However, Thimerosal contains ethyl mercury, not methyl mercury which is linked to brain damage.

Visit Our Delaware Office To Get You And Your Family’s Flu Shots.

Call Us At 302.633.5782 To Make Your Appointment Today!