Hi Dr. V,
My job is offering free flu shots and I’m not sure I should get one. My boyfriend never gets one and says I shouldn’t either because it will give me the flu. What do you think?
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for your question. It’s ultimately your decision whether you should get the flu shot or not, but let me give you the facts to help your decision. The flu shot is a vaccination made from samples of the flu virus that are NOT alive (killed), therefore you cannot get the flu from the flushot. There is also a nasal spray for the flu vaccination. The nasal spray is made from samples of the virus that are ALIVE, but weaker than the regular flu. This means that the nasal spray cannot give a healthy person the flu. Getting a flu shot is not just to protect YOU but also your LOVED ones from getting sick. Every year more than 60 million people get the flu, and some people will die from the flu. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends everyone who is 6months and older may be able to get a flu shot. It is especially important to get a flu shot if you have loved ones in your household who:
- are young children or elderly
- have medical problems
- are immunocompromised (their immune system doesn’t function as well or as strong as it should)
- are a health-care provider
- live in close quarters with other people e.g.. like a college student
Side effects of the flu shot usually occur 1-2 days after you get the vaccination, and include soreness, redness or pain at the injection site, low grade fever, and body aches. Side effects of the nasal spray vaccine include a runny nose, headache, cough, nausea and vomiting, fever, and muscle aches. I got my flu shot a few weeks ago and didn’t have any side effects or flu symptoms, but everyone is different. Talk to your doctor TODAY to see if you should get the flu shot because flu season is here! For more information visit: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/