Facts About the Flu and Influenza Treatment

I don't need a flu shot because...

Many people avoid getting a
flu shot because misinformation
steers them away from this
important annual preventive
vaccine. Considering up to 20
percent of the population
contracts influenza (flu) every
year, getting a flu shot makes
good health sense.

“The flu isn’t that serious...”

Many people are unaware that influenza, the flu, is a serious disease. According to the CDC, influenza and pneumonia combined are the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S.¹ and can cause almost as many deaths as AIDS² or breast cancer.³

Flu symptoms, which include fever, headaches, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, extreme tiredness and body aches, can disrupt your work, school and social life for up to two weeks.⁴

The flu is highly contagious and can easily be passed from a low-risk individual to a high-risk individual, which can then lead to serious complications, including pneumonia and worsening of chronic conditions.⁴

“I got the vaccine and still got the flu so it must not be effective…”

The vaccine prevents influenza in approximately 70 to 90 percent of healthy people under the age of 65. The effectiveness of the vaccine is subject to variables such as age and health status, as well as the match between virus strains in the vaccine and virus strains in circulation.⁵

“If I get the vaccine, it might give me the flu...”

A flu shot will not give you the flu.

The viral strains in injectable influenza vaccine have been inactivated, making it biologically unable to cause illness. The viral strains in the nasal-spray vaccine are weakened and do not cause severe symptoms often associated with influenza illness.¹⁰

“I never get the flu…”

Influenza strains change every year, which means that even if you had a natural immunity to previous strains, your immunity may not protect you from each year’s new circulating strains.⁷

“I’ll take my chances…”

Unfortunately, getting the flu means also becoming a carrier. Since flu is highly contagious, with symptoms starting one to four days after the virus enters the body, even the most conscientious individuals may unknowingly spread the virus.⁹

“The flu vaccine is only necessary for the old and very young...”

The flu vaccine is for anyone who doesn’t want to be sick with the flu or inadvertently spread the virus to others. In 2010, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the CDC expanded their recommendation for annual immunization to include all people aged 6 months and older.

“I got a vaccine last year so I don’t need one this year...”

Because influenza strains typically change each year, you cannot count on last year’s vaccine to give you protection this year.⁶

“I’m too late...”

While October and November are the recommended months for vaccination, getting a flu shot later in the season (December–March) can still protect you as flu season often peaks after January.⁸

The flu is preventable. Be sure to get vaccinated to keep you and your loved ones flu-free!

References
	1.	FastStats: Deaths and Mortality www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm Accessed June 2011.

	2.	Avert. U.S. HIV & AIDS Statistics Summary www.avert.org/usa-statistics.htm Accessed June 2011.

	3.	American Cancer Society. Breast Cancer Overview www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancer/OverviewGuide/ breast-cancer-overview-key-statistics Accessed June 2011.

	4.	Influenza Symptoms www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms.htm Accessed June 2011.

	5.	Questions & Answers: Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccineeffect.htm Accessed June 2011.

	6.	Influenza: The Disease http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/disease.htm Accessed June 2011.

	7.	How the Flu Virus Can Change www.cdc.gov/flu/about/viruses/change.htm Accessed June 2011.

	8.	Key Facts About Seasonal Influenza (Flu) www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm Accessed June 2011.

	9.	Seasonal Flu: How Flu Spreads www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/spread.htm Accessed June 2011.

	10.	Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm Accessed June 2011.