Flu Vaccination Myth Busters!

There are many myths around Flu and the Flu vaccination, so please see below the facts!

The Flu is much worse than a heavy cold

Flu symptoms come on suddenly and in some cases very severely.

Flu symptoms include:

• A sudden fever – a temperature of 38C or above
• Chills
• Headaches
• Aching muscles
• A dry cough
• Sore throat
• Feeling tired or exhausted
• Difficulty sleeping
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhoea or tummy pain
• Feeling sick and being sick

The symptoms are similar for children, but they can also get pain in their ears and can appear less active.

How to treat flu yourself:

• Rest and sleep
• Keep warm
• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains you may have
• Drink plenty of water to avoid being dehydrated

The Flu Vaccine CANNOT give you Flu!

The injected flu vaccine given to adults contains inactivated flu viruses – so this cannot give you flu.

After being injected with the flu vaccine your arm may feel a little sore, and some people get a slight temperature and aching muscles for a couple of days afterwards.

Flu cannot be treated with antibiotics

Flu is caused by viruses. Antibodies only work against bacteria. You may be prescribed antiviral medications to treat your flu. Antivirals do not cure flu, but they can make you less infectious to others and may reduce the length of time that you are ill. For antivirals to be affective they have to be given within a day or 2 of your symptoms appearing.

If you’re pregnant you should have the flu vaccine

You should have the flu vaccine no matter what stage of pregnancy you are at.

Pregnant women benefit from the flu vaccine because it will:

• Reduce their risk of serious complications such as pneumonia, particularly in the later stage of pregnancy
• Reduce the risk of miscarriage or having a baby born too soon or with a low birth weight
• Help protect their baby who will continue to have some immunity to flu during the first few months of life
• Reduce the chance of the mother passing infection to her new baby

For more information about the flu vaccine, please click here