4 Common Flu Shot Questions Answered

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Those of you who are long-time readers of my blog know that I work part-time as a corporate wellness nurse. One of my roles every autumn is to administer flu vaccinations. We’re gearing up to begin this service in just a few weeks.

Most healthcare facilities highly encourage their employees and volunteers to receive the flu shot every year. So, I thought it might be helpful to share with you the most common questions I’m asked about flu vaccinations.

Why should I get the flu shot?

• WebMD estimates that between 5% and 20% of Americans catch the respiratory flu every year, and we all know how crummy the flu makes us feel. Even worse, approximately 3000-49,000 people die of flu-related complications each year. Another 200,000 people end up in the hospital.

• When you get a flu shot, you not only protect yourself, but you also help protect those around you who are at higher risk of catching the flu. This includes babies, elderly people, those with chronic health conditions, and people who can’t receive the vaccination for medical reasons.

• According to the National Institutes of Health, the annual economic cost of influenza in the United States averages about 2.47 million dollars.

• The Affordable Care Act requires most health insurance companies to provide the flu vaccine at no cost to you.

Can I catch the flu from the flu shot?

Every year I encounter a few people who swear up and down that they caught the flu from the flu shot at some point in their lives. This is scientifically impossible, as the vaccine does not contain live viruses.

Nevertheless, I fully understand why a person believes that this happened. There are several reasons you might become ill after receiving the flu shot:

1. It takes about two weeks after receiving the vaccination for the body to build up maximum immunity. Exposure to the flu before the end of these two weeks means you could still come down with the flu.
2. The flu shot isn’t 100% effective. According to the CDC, vaccinations typically reduce the risk of developing the flu by 40-60% in the general population. But even if you do catch the flu, it probably will be a milder case due to partial protection from the vaccine.
3. The flu shot only protects against certain strains of the respiratory flu. You can still become ill from other ailments such as the common cold or the stomach flu.

What side effects can I expect from the flu shot?

It’s not unusual to experience localized soreness, redness, or swelling at the site of the flu shot. This generally lasts only a day or two. You might also feel mild generalized symptoms such as a headache, achiness, or fatigue. These are simply your body’s immune response to the vaccine.

Severe reactions to the flu vaccine are extremely rare. For example, it’s possible to have an allergic reaction to the flu vaccine. In all my years of administering flu shots, I’ve only seen this happen one time, and the person recovered quickly without any complications.

There’s also a potentially serious syndrome called Guillain-Barre that involves the body’s immune system being triggered to attack the nervous system. Estimates indicate that this occurs in about 1-2 people per million doses of flu vaccine administered.

When you consider how many people die of complications from the flu every year in the United States, and how many more are hospitalized, I believe the benefits of the flu shot far outweigh the risks. However, if you have any concerns about whether or not you should receive the flu shot, please contact your primary medical provider.

Should I worry about mercury in flu shots?

A preservative called thimerosal has been used in flu vaccines for many decades. Thimerosal contains a small amount of mercury. However, it is important to note that this is ethylmercury. It’s not the same as methylmercury that we worry about causing toxicity when we eat certain types of fish.

Extensive testing over many years indicates that the use of thimerosal in vaccines is safe for humans. However, if you feel uncomfortable about thimerosal, there are vaccines available that are thimerosal-free. Preservatives are only necessary for multi-dose vials to help prevent microbial contamination. They’re not used in single-dose vials.

I’m curious to know what your facilities do to encourage employees and volunteers to receive flu vaccinations. Please share in the comment section!

Want to know more about how to help prevent the spread of the flu? Check out these 6 helpful tips.