BUST THOSE MYTHS... about the flu jab

If you’re thinking about getting your flu shot but are unsure about its safety, here are a few myths busted so you can book your appointment with confidence.

‘The flu shot can give you the flu’

The flu vaccine can’t give you the flu because flu jabs are made either with inactivated strains of an influenza virus or with a single protein from a flu virus.

‘You don’t need a flu shot every year’

The virus is continually evolving and different strains circulate. The annual flu vaccines are made specifically for the upcoming season’s expected flu strain. The effectiveness doesn’t carry over from one year to the next.

‘It’s not safe to get a flu shot while pregnant’

Research shows that people who get vaccinated and avoid the flu have healthier pregnancies and are less likely to have a baby with birth defects or other issues. The flu vaccine also protects a baby for several months after birth, when they’re too young to get vaccinated.