Flu Myths Busted!
MYTH: The flu isn’t that bad.
BUSTED! It can be bad, especially if you’re in a high-risk population for severe flu complications, including:
- Adults 65 and older
- People with chronic health conditions such as heart disease or diabetes
- Pregnant women
- Children under age 2
There’s a strong link between the flu and heart disease and stroke. During recent flu seasons, about half of all adults hospitalized for the flu also had heart disease. A 2018 study found that the risk of having a heart attack was six times higher within a week of a flu infection.
MYTH: The vaccine’s side effects are worse than the flu.
BUSTED! Most people tolerate the vaccine well. Some people report mild side effects, such as soreness, redness, tenderness or swelling, low-grade fever, headache and muscle aches.
But the flu can cause much worse symptoms, such as fever or feeling feverish, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and/or fatigue.
You can reduce your chances of feeling bad after you get a flu shot by:
- Staying hydrated
- Applying a cool, clean compress to the injection site
- Considering over-the-counter pain and fever reducers if needed
- Not smoking or drinking alcohol
MYTH: I got a flu vaccine last year, so I’m good to go.
BUSTED! You need a flu vaccine every year. Immunity reduces over time, and flu virus vaccines are constantly updated to protect against the most recent strain.
MYTH: I got my COVID-19 vaccine(s), so I don’t need a flu shot.
BUSTED! Your COVID-19 vaccine won’t prevent the flu since they’re caused by two different viruses. You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine at the same visit.
MYTH: Only elderly people need to worry about the flu.
BUSTED! People 65 and older are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications compared with young, healthy adults. But people from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups are also hit harder by the flu. Black, Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Native people have had consistently higher rates of severe flu outcomes, including hospital stays and ICU admissions, from 2009 to 2023.