Myth 1: Healthy people don't get seasonal flu. FALSE!
- Anyone can pick up the virus.
- Generally 15-20 per cent of the population gets flu - healthy people included!
- If you can catch it, you can pass it on to those who are at more risk of serious illness. This could include your friends, family or work colleagues.
Myth 2: The flu jab uses a big needle. FALSE!
- The needle used to give the flu jab is only a few millimetres long and the injection itself literally takes a couple of seconds
- So, if you are usually scared of needles, you may not be as badly affected as you think
Myth 3: The side effects are really bad. FALSE!
- Some people have said they are worried about having the flu vaccine this year because of the side effects they experienced from last year’s separate swine flu vaccine.
- For the most part, seasonal flu vaccine side effects are really mild or often non-existent. They are usually a slight soreness around the site of the injection and occasionally some aching of muscles or a slightly raised temperature.
- These symptoms should go away after a couple of days and are a lot less serious than actually having flu.
Myth 4: I’ve had the flu jab before so I don’t need it again. FALSE!
- The flu is a living organism and it changes slightly every year so it can survive. The only way to protect against it is to update the seasonal flu vaccine every year. Therefore, the protection the vaccine gives only lasts around 12 months before you need an updated version. .
- People who have already had the swine flu pandemic vaccine should still have the new seasonal vaccine and it is strongly recommended for all pregnant women.
Myth 5: The flu jab isn’t safe. FALSE!
- The risk of having a serious reaction to the seasonal flu vaccine is less than one in a million. It is much less than the risk of getting seriously ill from having the flu itself.
- The only people who should not have the vaccine are those who have a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to eggs. This is because hen’s eggs are used in the manufacture of the vaccine.
- If you are unsure whether you should have the vaccine because of this, please speak to your GP.
Myth 6: The flu jab can give you the flu. FALSE!
- It is impossible to get flu from the having the flu jab. This is because the vaccine doesn’t contain any live viruses.
- A very small number of people experience side effects which are similar to those of the flu. They include aching muscles or a temperature.
- This is not flu, it’s just your body's immune system responding to the vaccine and developing immunity to build up your protection.
Myth 7: It hasn't been properly tested. FALSE!
- The seasonal flu vaccine is one of the safest vaccines in the world and is given to millions of people in the UK each year. The specific strains of flu that are included may change from one year to the next but that does not affect the safety of the vaccine or change it in any other way
Myth 8: I can’t have the jab because I’m pregnant. FALSE!
- Pregnant women are actively being offered the seasonal flu jab as an “at risk” group this year.
- This is because we know that pregnant women who catch swine flu have a much higher risk of serious illness or death from the virus than other people.
- When pregnant women are vaccinated, their unborn baby also gets some protection against the flu virus.
Myth 9: The flu jab contains pork products. FALSE!
- This was a myth that came about because of the swine flu “pandemic” in 2009. There are NO pork-based products or processes used in the manufacture of the seasonal flu jab.
