The Flu and What You Need to Know

There are many benefits of receiving a flu shot. A flu shot will help to keep you and your family protected against the influenza virus. It’s also a “heart healthy” step. There’s more and more research showing that people who have underlying conditions like heart disease and diabetes and who get a flu shot are less likely to have acute heart complications that can happen when people are exposed to influenza virus.

The flu shot will not protect you from contracting COVID-19;it will only protect against the seasonal flu. A vaccine is not yet available for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Although the flu shot does not protect you from COVID-19, it is still important to get. Doing so will help lessen the possible risk of you becoming co-infected with both the flu and COVID-19. Widespread flu, on top of the COVID-19 pandemic, may also result in high demand for health care services, especially those who develop severed illness from either or both viruses.

Flu Shots are Safe and Effective

• Flu vaccines have a good safety record. Hundreds of millions of Americans have safely reecived flu vaccines over the past 50 years, and there has been extensive research supporting the saftey of flu vaccinces.
• A flu vaccine is the first and best way to reduce your chances of getting the flue and spreading it to others. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older receive a flu vaccine every year.
• The effectiveness of the flu vaccine can vary from one flu season (Usually October - April) to the next. The effectiveness varies depending on several factors, including the type of flu virus (these change each season) and the degree of similarity between circulating viruses and those included in teh vaccine. For flu vaccine, overall effectiveness against any type of influenza visrus varies between 45-65%. However, although not always protective, vaccination still decreases the risk of hospitalization and death from the flu.

Contrary to popular belief, the flu shot does not cause the flu. Flu shots are made with either inactivated viruses or with a single flu virus protein. The nasal flu vaccine contains live viruses that are weakened and do not cause illness. However, you may experience some minor side effects like soreness, redness or swelling at the shot site, a low-grade fever and some aches. To learn more about misconceptions of the seasonal flu and flu vaccines visit the CDC website.

With any vaccine, look for any unusual conditions, such as a high fever, behavior changes, or signs of a severe allergic reaction after vaccination.

Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Hoarseness or wheezing
• Swelling around the eyes or lips
• Hives
• Paleness
• Weakness
• A fast heart beat or dizziness

Life threatening allergic reactions to the flu shot are rare. These signs would most likely happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccine is given. If you think it is a severe allergic reaction or other emergency that can’t wait, call 911 and get to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor.

Fears and Misconceptions

Pregnant women should get a flu shot to protect themselves and their developing babies. This is especially important as children under the age of 6 months cannot be vaccinated against the flu. To learn more about flu vaccine safety during pregnancy, visit Flu Vaccine Safety and Pregnancy.

There has been concern that getting the flu shot may cause one to get Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). In fact, there is a greater risk of GBS by not getting vaccinated. Influenza illness can trigger Guillain-Barre and several recent scientific studies have shown the risk of GBS after natural influenza infection is four to seven times greater than among those receiving the influenza vaccine.

Another misconception is that the vaccine causes autism. There is no scientific data that shows a connection between flu vaccination and autism.

People with an egg allergy can get a flu vaccine. Discuss this with your doctor or primary care provider. There is a vaccine available that is egg-free.

Those with an allergy to the preservative Thimerosal are also able to get the vaccine. Vaccine ordered in single dose syringes by our Health Ministries are usually free of any preservative like Thimerosal. This varies, however, for other formulations like multi-dose vials. Check with the provider who's giving vaccine if you have questions.

When and How to get the Flu Shot

The best time to get a flu shot is between late September and the end of October. Flu vaccines last about six months. This will ensure the vaccine protects you into the spring. It takes about two weeks for the flu shot to provide immunity. That’s why its beneficial to receive the shot before there is widespread influenza activity in the community. But it’s never too late to get the flu shot.

Flu shots are available at all Trinity Health Of New England Medical Group primary care offices. Adults and children ages six months and older may also receive the flu shot at any of our urgent care locations.

For more information about flu prevention and the flue vaccine, visit CDC's Flu prevention page.