TMA Flu Fighters Dispel Flu Vaccine Myths

Main Category: Flu / Cold / SARS
Also Included In: Immune System / Vaccines;  Public Health
Article Date: 13 Nov 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Myths about the flu shot are circulating like flu bugs. The Texas Medical Association's (TMA's) Flu Fighter physicians want to set the record straight about the safety of seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines.

Vaccines Are Recommended, and Safe

The Flu Fighters recommend everyone get the seasonal flu vaccine. For the following people, it's especially important to get the seasonal flu vaccine: children age 6 months to 18 years; pregnant women; people age 50 and older; anyone with chronic medical conditions; health care workers; residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities; caregivers of people with high risk of complications from flu; and caregivers of kids 5 years old and younger, especially of infants.

The following people should be of highest priority to get the H1N1 vaccine : pregnant women, caregivers of infants younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel, anyone age 6 months to 24 years old, and people age 25 through 64 years with chronic health disorders.

Get It Straight - Don't Buy Into the Myths

"We're hearing all kinds of myths, rumors, and unfounded fears about the current flu vaccines. It's unfortunate because these falsehoods only confuse our patients. As a result, patients and even some health care workers are choosing not to get vaccinated," says TMA Flu Fighter Wendy Chung, MD. "Our goal is to keep our communities safe by ensuring people have accurate information so they can make informed decisions." TMA's Flu Fighters are a physician subcommittee of TMA's Committee on Infectious Diseases, focused on educating patients and other physicians about the seasonal and H1N1 flu. Below are a few of the most common myths in circulation, and the facts:

Myth: The flu vaccine can give you the flu. FALSE.

Flu shots cannot give patients the flu. Why? The injectable flu shots are made from inactivated (killed) viruses that are not infectious. Some people can experience mild side effects in the first day or two after receiving the vaccine, most commonly pain or swelling where the shot was given. The other types of flu vaccines, nasal spray flu vaccines, are made from weakened viruses that cannot infect the lungs.

Although some people may get sick after getting a shot, it's probably because they were exposed to a cold or another mild infection before they received their flu shot or before it took effect, and they incorrectly blame the flu shot for their illness. It can take up to10 days to two weeks for your body to become fully protected after receiving a vaccine.

Myth: The H1N1 vaccine is less safe than seasonal flu vaccines. FALSE.

The H1N1 vaccine is made the same way as the seasonal flu vaccine, which is safely given to millions of people each year. The H1N1 vaccine simply targets a different flu strain than the seasonal flu vaccine. The vaccine also has been tested in adults and children. In H1N1 vaccine tests, no deaths or serious adverse events have been reported in early trials. In some of the National Institutes of Health's numerous tests on thousands of patients nationwide, some patients reported local discomfort, headache, and fever, but nearly all symptoms were mild to moderate in intensity. The national Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System and other surveillance programs also constantly monitor the safety of the H1N1 flu vaccine and seasonal flu vaccines. The H1N1 vaccine is tested, and is safe.

Myth: Instead of getting vaccinated, it is better to take your chances and get sick with the flu. FALSE.

Although most people in good health who get the seasonal flu or the H1N1 flu recover after several days of mild illness, some can suffer severe illnesses. In fact, some previously healthy people of all ages have had to be hospitalized or even died from flu complications. Persons infected with flu also can unknowingly pass the flu on to others who might be more vulnerable to severe illness. Even though hand-washing and avoiding people who are sick are good habits, they are not enough to prevent disease. Vaccination is our strongest tool to prevent the flu.

(Special concerns - take note: People who are allergic to eggs, have a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome, or have had a prior severe allergic reaction to a flu shot should talk to their doctor about whether they should get a flu shot.)

Bottom line: Influenza vaccines are the best way for people to prevent illness in themselves and in those who are close to them. "Fighting the flu is challenging enough with straight facts, but misinformation makes it even tougher, so we want people to be informed, safe, and healthy," says Edward J. Sherwood, MD, chair of TMA's Committee on Infectious Diseases.

TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing nearly 44,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA's key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.

Source
Texas Medical Association

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