UNDERSTANDING INFLUENZA:

Common Misperceptions

The flu is just a bad cold.

Reality: The flu can lead to serious complications.
While they may share symptoms, in the United States alone, more than 200,000 are hospitalized with the flu each year.

I caught the flu once this season, so I'm protected against it for the rest of the year.

Reality: Don't bet on it.
While you may develop immunity against the strain that infected you, that doesn't guarantee that you have immunity against other flu strains which are circulating in the same season.

You can't spread the flu if you're feeling well.

Reality: You actually can.
The CDC says that most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than seven days. Symptoms start one to four days after the virus enters the body. Some persons can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those persons may still spread the virus to others.

Getting enough rest and good nutrition prevents the flu.

Reality: The CDC says everyone over 6 months of age should be vaccinated.
Two vaccination options approved to help prevent the flu are FluMist and the flu shot. Visit our FluMist or Flu Shot? section for more information. Ask your doctor which option may be right for you.

I'll catch the flu from not wearing a coat or having wet hair.

Reality: Just an old wives' tale.
Since flu season coincides with the coldest time of the year, many people often associate the flu with a cold, drafty environment. But the only real way for anyone to catch the flu is by being exposed to the influenza virus.

You can catch the flu from a flu vaccine.

Reality: Vaccines are engineered not to cause infections.
If you experience some of the common side effects associated with receiving a vaccine (stuffy nose, low grade fever, body aches, or fatigue) it may just be your body starting to build antibodies against the flu.

It is too late to get vaccinated after Thanksgiving.

Reality: You still have plenty of time.
While the timing and duration of influenza seasons varies year to year, influenza most commonly peaks in February and may circulate as late as May. So, ask your healthcare provider about getting a flu vaccine any time between August and May.

Healthy people don't need to be vaccinated.

Reality: Even healthy people can get the flu.
Just because you're healthy, doesn't mean that you can't catch the flu or spread it to others. The CDC recommends an annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older. No one vaccine is right for everyone, so talk to your doctor about which is best for each member of your family.

You don't need to get a flu vaccination every year.

Reality: Influenza viruses mutate from year to year.
Even though you may have been protected from the 3 most prevalent strains last year because you received a flu vaccine, next year's strains may be very different and unrecognizable to your immune system. Flu vaccines are only expected to help protect for a single season so it's very important to continue to get vaccinated annually.

FluMist is not effective at helping to prevent the flu.

Reality: Actually, it has shown to be effective against the flu. It is approved for use in eligible people 2-49 years of age.
In a study of kids 2-5 years of age, FluMist cut the risk of getting the flu in half compared to the flu shot.*

In a study of adults 18 to 49 years of age, FluMist reduced influenza illness compared to placebo.**

FluMist is too new.

Reality: The FDA approved FluMist for use in 2003.
And since then, over 40 million doses of FluMist have been distributed to help eligible families prevent the flu.

Vaccinating with a "live" virus will cause the flu.

Reality: FluMist is engineered not to cause the flu.
FluMist contains a weakened live virus that activates the immune system in the lining of the nose and throat, where the flu virus usually enters the body.

If I sneeze after getting FluMist, I have to start over.

Reality: Don't worry, you don't need to get it again.
If you sneeze or blow your nose after getting FluMist, you will not need to be revaccinated.