Flu Shot Misinformation: Debunked
Written by Alexandria Yarborough, PharmD
As a community pharmacist, flu season is one of the busiest times of year in the pharmacy. Long lines of new and familiar patients are often filling out paperwork at one pharmacy window and handing me an insurance card at another.
I love giving vaccinations, it’s one of my favorite parts of my job. I have the unique opportunity to help decrease severe illness and keep patients out of the hospital by informing and encouraging them about the benefits of receiving the flu vaccine. Throughout the years, I have noticed that most of my patients tend to be either very young or over 65. There is one age group I am seeing less and less though: millennials.
Yet, millennials are one of the age groups most likely to be affected by the flu this season and also the least likely to get flu shots. That's one of the findings from a survey conducted by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
In 2020, the survey asked 1,000 adults about flu myths and misconceptions. More than half — 55 percent — of people in their 20s and 30s said they did not plan on getting a flu vaccine.
Their reasoning was that they didn’t have time, kept forgetting, or didn’t feel as if they needed it. Although this survey was conducted during the pandemic, the trend has remained strong with decreasing numbers each year since.
In community pharmacy, we spend a lot of time counseling patients on medication but also answering questions about the vaccines we administer. The main questions aren’t about the side effects, cost, or even if it will be painful; most of the questions focus around what patients have heard from their community or social media. The most common concerns I hear are listed below.
1. The flu shot can give you the flu
It is not possible for the flu shot to give you the flu. Hundreds of millions of flu vaccines have been safely given for decades. The vaccine works by introducing a small protein from an inactivated (killed) virus into your body. This causes your body to produce antibodies to fight the disease and creates immunity for when you are introduced to the virus at a later time.
It takes about two weeks for the shot to be most effective, which is why it’s recommended that you get your vaccination before flu season even begins. If you're exposed to the flu shortly before or during that time period, you might catch the flu. Many other illnesses, such as the common cold, also have flu-like symptoms. This leads many people to assume the flu vaccine is ineffective or unnecessary.
Although the flu shot can’t give you the flu, some of the side effects can feel like an illness. The most common side effects from a flu shot are: achiness, low-grade fever, and soreness where the shot was given. Some people have muscle aches and lethargy for a day or two after receiving a flu vaccine. This may be a side effect of your body's production of protective antibodies. If you have them at all, these side effects are usually mild and do not last long.
2. The flu is just a bad cold
False. The flu is still a very serious disease, particularly among children, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions. Any flu infection can carry a risk of serious complications, hospitalization or death, even among otherwise healthy people.
In the 2023-2024 season, the CDC estimates there have been at least 34 million illnesses, 380,000 hospitalizations, and 17,000 deaths. Severe complications can include the following: secondary bacterial pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, myocarditis, sepsis, and multiorgan failure.
The flu also can make chronic conditions worse. For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks while they have flu, and people with heart disease have been known to have a heart attack or stroke triggered by the flu.
3. I should wait to get vaccinated so my immunity will last
The CDC recommends getting the flu shot every year by the end of October. Flu season can start as early as October and most commonly peaks in January or February. Unfortunately, flu seasons are unpredictable and there is no way to predict when strains will be circulating. Even if you can't get your vaccine by the end of October, experts still recommend getting it before the winter holidays when large groups of people are often gathered together indoors.
The CDC recommends that travelers have the flu vaccine at least 2 weeks before planned travel to allow time to develop immunity. While delaying getting a vaccine until later in the Fall may lead to higher levels of immunity during winter months, this should be balanced against possible risks, such as missed opportunities to receive the vaccine, and not having immunity when traveling around potentially contagious people.
4. Flu vaccines contain harmful ingredients
All commercially available flu vaccines in the United States are made by private sector manufacturers. Although they use different production technologies, all flu vaccines meet FDA safety and effectiveness requirements.
In the past, there has been concern about mercury in vaccines. Thimerosal is an ethyl mercury-based preservative used in multidose vials to prevent germs, bacteria and/or fungi from contaminating the vaccine. In the rare chance you do receive a vaccine that contains thimerosal, do not worry. There is no evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site.
Since 2016, almost all flu vaccines are supplied in single-dose pre-filled syringes. In addition, the nasal spray flu vaccine does not contain a preservative.
5. The flu shot doesn’t work
Flu vaccination can keep you from getting sick with the flu. Even if you get the flu after being vaccinated, it can help reduce the length and severity of your flu infection. The flu vaccine prevents millions of illnesses and flu-related doctor visits each year. For example, during the 2019-2020 flu season flu, vaccination prevented an estimated 7 million flu illnesses, 100,000 hospitalizations, and 7,000 deaths. The flu vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor with flu by up to 60%.
A 2021 study showed that among adults hospitalized with flu, vaccinated patients had a 26% lower risk of ICU admission and a 31% lower risk of death from flu compared with those who did not get a flu shot.
Although the flu shot doesn't always provide complete protection, it's worth getting. It’s the best way to prevent the flu and its complications. So, it does work!
The CDC recommends an annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months or older. That means all of us millennials should be getting a flu shot!
Remember, taking a few minutes to get the flu vaccine can not only lower your risk of getting the flu, it also can lower the risk of having serious complications, hospitalization, or death.
Administering shots as part of my job is extremely rewarding. I never know the true impact of the work that I do, but I do know that I can help my community avoid serious illness and its complications by providing valid, evidence-based information for them to make their vaccination decisions.
Pharmacists are the most accessible health care professionals. If you have a question or concern about getting the flu or any vaccine, please don’t hesitate to ask. You never know, it could just save your life!
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