Our myth busting facts are here to help you feel more informed and confident in getting your flu jab and staying well this winter.
Having the flu vaccine gives you flu
No, it doesn’t. The injected flu vaccine that is given to adults contains inactivated flu viruses, so it can’t give you the flu.
Your arm may feel a bit sore where you were injected, and some people get a slight temperature and aching muscles for a couple of days afterwards, but other reactions are very rare.
Once you’ve had the flu vaccine, you’re protected for life
No, you aren’t. The viruses that cause the flu can change every year, so you also need a vaccination each year that matches the new viruses.
The vaccine usually provides protection for the duration of the flu season that year.
If I missed having the flu jab in October it’s too late to have it now
No, it’s not too late. It is better to have the flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available, but it’s always worth getting vaccinated before the flu comes around.
Since we don’t know when the flu will strike, the sooner you have the vaccine the better.
I can’t have the flu vaccine because I’m pregnant or breastfeeding
Pregnancy advice
- Having the flu vaccine if you’re pregnant will help protect you and your baby.
- It’s safe to have the vaccine at any stage of pregnancy from the first few weeks up to your expected due date.
- Those who have had the flu vaccine while pregnant also pass some protection onto babies, which lasts for the first few months of their lives.
Breastfeeding advice
- It is safe for women who are breastfeeding to have the vaccine.
I can’t have the flu jab because I’m allergic to eggs or vegetarian
The flu vaccine is made using eggs but if you’re allergic, you can get an ‘egg-free’ vaccine.
I’m on antibiotics therefore I can’t have the flu vaccine
Yes, you can get a flu vaccine whilst on antibiotics.
The flu jab contains pork products
The flu jab does not contain any pork ingredient or gelatine and is ok for our Muslim colleagues to have.
I’ve had flu recently so I don’t need to be vaccinated
You need to have a flu jab even if you’ve already had flu recently.
Flu is caused by several viruses and the immunity your body has naturally developed after having flu will only protect against one of these strains.
Also, what you had might not necessarily have been flu.
Flu is just like having a heavy cold
While colds and flu share some similar symptoms (such as a blocked nose, sore throat, and high temperature), make no mistake – a bad bout of flu is much worse than a cold.
Cold symptoms:
- normally develop over one or two days
- cause more nasal problems than flu
- sufferers usually begin to feel better after a couple of day
Flu symptoms:
- fever, fatigue and muscle aches are more likely and more severe
- if you get complications caused by the flu, you could become seriously ill
- flu symptoms come on suddenly and sometimes severely
- it takes around a week to recover from flu, although sufferers might feel tired for much longer
I’m a health professional and I never get flu, so I don’t really need the vaccine
Vaccination is about keeping you safe and well as well as protecting those close to you – your colleagues and patients who may be more vulnerable to the effects of the virus.
Just because you’ve not had flu before doesn’t mean you won’t get it this year.
Antibiotics can cure the flu
Absolutely not. Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses (which cause flu). Viruses don’t respond to antibiotics.
Sometimes people who experience complications because of flu can never be given antibiotics because they develop a bacterial infection (such as pneumonia) – but this is not flu itself – it’s the result of the body being weakened by the flu and letting bacteria take hold.
The flu vaccine protects you straight away
It usually takes about 10 days for you to be protected against flu after you get jabbed.
So it’s best to get the vaccine as early as possible as you could be vaccinated and then pick up the flu before you are fully protected.
The flu vaccine will stop me from catching a cold
No, it won’t. The flu vaccine protects you again flu viruses. Colds are caused by other less serious viruses that are completely different from the flu.
You may well still get winter colds after getting the flu vaccine, but you’re much less likely to get flu itself – which is potentially a much more serious condition.
Feed a cold and starve a fever
If you’re ill you need nutrients and liquids – even if you don’t like it, it is good for your body to have some nourishment.
To avoid catching a bug, or passing it on to someone else, wash your hands or use hand sanitiser often during cold and flu season.