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Myths About the Flu
Hoping ALL of you got your yearly flu shot. Anyone with a chronic disease should get their shot (and liver disease whether SVR or not is a disease too!)
By Liz Szabo, USA TODAY
In a new survey by Consumer Reports, only 30% of respondents were "very confident" that this year's flu shot is safe.
That leaves many doctors and scientists perplexed. Of all the many things to fear in the world, they say, vaccines should be at the bottom of the list. USA TODAY's Liz Szabo talked to vaccine safety experts to address some of the most common myths.
TWITTER: #fluchat questions & doctor's answers
Myth 1: The flu shot causes the flu.
The viruses in the flu shot are dead, so they can't give people the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its most common side effect is soreness in the arm.
FluMist nasal spray contains weakened viruses, so they don't cause severe, flu-like symptoms, either. Side effects in children can include a runny nose, wheezing and headache.
So why do some people swear that they got sick right after getting a flu shot? Flu shots tend to be given at a time of year when respiratory viruses are beginning to circulate, doctors say. So it's only natural that some people will catch a respiratory bug shortly after getting a vaccine. And since it takes about two weeks after getting a vaccine for the body to develop immunity, some of those bugs could be the flu. But the vaccine itself isn't causing disease.
Myth 2: The flu is just a bad cold.
While some people develop worse symptoms than others, flu symptoms tend to be much more severe than — and come on much more suddenly — than a cold. Many who got H1N1 (swine flu) last year were out of work or school for a week with fever, body aches, sore throat, fatigue, headaches and a runny or congested nose, according to the CDC.
And unlike a cold, which generally goes away on its own after five days or so, the flu can cause life-threatening complications, mostly by causing secondary bacterial infections such as pneumonia.
The flu sends 200,000 people to the hospital and kills 30,000 in a typical year, the CDC says.
California obstetrician-gynecologist Jennifer Gunter says her 7-year-old son, Oliver, who was born prematurely, has been hospitalized for the flu twice. Both times, he came home from the hospital with an oxygen machine. Gunter caught H1N1 last year, before the vaccine was available.
"It was horrible," Gunter says. "I was off work for six days until I was no longer infectious."
In developed countries, influenza kills more people than any other vaccine-preventable disease, says pediatrician Jon Abramson of Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Families Fighting Flu, a non-profit health group.
Myth 3: This year's shot — which protects against both H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines — is riskier than earlier versions.
Actually, the new flu shot was made the same way as every other flu shot, says Randy Bergen of Kaiser Permanente in Walnut Creek, Calif.
Every year, vaccine makers include circulating viral strains that are most likely to cause illness. Typically, these include two influenza A strains — an H1N1 and an H3N2 — and a strain of influenza B, Abramson says.
This year, manufacturers included the H1N1 strain that caused pandemic last year, Abramson says.
All drugs, including "natural" supplements and vitamins, have side effects. But the safety of vaccines is actually tracked more closely than just about any other drug. Unlike most medicines, "we have more hard facts when it comes to the flu shot," Gunter says.
Through the National Adverse Event Reporting System, investigators check out every serious side effect that people experience after getting a flu shot. Most aren't related to the flu vaccine. In fact, there were no deaths attributed to the H1N1 vaccine last year, Gunter says.
Myth 4: Only sick people need a flu shot.
While older people and newborns are usually at greatest risk for complications, swine flu is actually most threatening to the young.
Typically, about 90% of flu deaths are in people over 65. Last year, however, about 90% of flu deaths were in people under 30. About 10% of flu deaths last year were in children, according to the CDC.
When healthy people get vaccinated, it can help protect the weak, including cancer patients, anyone with a compromised immune system and newborns too young to get the shot, says Paul Offit, chief of infectious disease at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Because babies can't be vaccinated until they're 6 months old, they depend on those around them — parents, grandparents, siblings, babysitters, hospital employees — to get the flu shot, creating a "cocoon" of protection, Bergen says.
Myth 5: Flu shots contain methyl mercury and other toxic chemicals.
Although there's no evidence that the ethyl mercury-based preservative thimerosal causes harm, vaccine makers responded to public concerns in 2001 and stopped using it in most vaccines.
Neither flu shots in individual-dose containers or the FluMist nasal spray contain thimerosal. Flu vaccine kept in multi-dose vials do use thimerosal as a preservative, to prevent the growth of fungus or other potentially dangerous germs, Bergen says. Patients can ask for the thimerosal-free versions.
But scientists note that all mercury is not the same.
Thimerosal contains ethyl mercury, which has not been shown to cause harm, rather than methyl mercury, the type that can cause brain damage, Offit says. While most laypeople don't pay attention to such differences, they're important. Consider the huge difference between ethyl alcohol — or drinking alcohol, found in wine and beer — and methyl alcohol, or wood alcohol, which can cause blindness.
There's also no data to prove that thimerosal causes autism, Offit says. In fact, seven studies now refute that idea.
Gunter notes that flu shots don't use aluminum, which is used in other vaccines as an "adjuvant" to stimulate a stronger immune response.
While many medications and consumer products have trace levels of chemicals, so do our bodies, Offit says. Breast milk has more mercury contamination than vaccines. So does infant formula. But vaccines, like breast milk, play a vital role in keeping infants healthy.
"If you have zero tolerance for mercury, you have to move to another planet," Offit says. "We all have mercury and formaldehyde and aluminum in our bodies. Vaccines don't add to what we normally encounter every day."
By Liz Szabo, USA TODAY
In a new survey by Consumer Reports, only 30% of respondents were "very confident" that this year's flu shot is safe.
That leaves many doctors and scientists perplexed. Of all the many things to fear in the world, they say, vaccines should be at the bottom of the list. USA TODAY's Liz Szabo talked to vaccine safety experts to address some of the most common myths.
TWITTER: #fluchat questions & doctor's answers
Myth 1: The flu shot causes the flu.
The viruses in the flu shot are dead, so they can't give people the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its most common side effect is soreness in the arm.
FluMist nasal spray contains weakened viruses, so they don't cause severe, flu-like symptoms, either. Side effects in children can include a runny nose, wheezing and headache.
So why do some people swear that they got sick right after getting a flu shot? Flu shots tend to be given at a time of year when respiratory viruses are beginning to circulate, doctors say. So it's only natural that some people will catch a respiratory bug shortly after getting a vaccine. And since it takes about two weeks after getting a vaccine for the body to develop immunity, some of those bugs could be the flu. But the vaccine itself isn't causing disease.
Myth 2: The flu is just a bad cold.
While some people develop worse symptoms than others, flu symptoms tend to be much more severe than — and come on much more suddenly — than a cold. Many who got H1N1 (swine flu) last year were out of work or school for a week with fever, body aches, sore throat, fatigue, headaches and a runny or congested nose, according to the CDC.
And unlike a cold, which generally goes away on its own after five days or so, the flu can cause life-threatening complications, mostly by causing secondary bacterial infections such as pneumonia.
The flu sends 200,000 people to the hospital and kills 30,000 in a typical year, the CDC says.
California obstetrician-gynecologist Jennifer Gunter says her 7-year-old son, Oliver, who was born prematurely, has been hospitalized for the flu twice. Both times, he came home from the hospital with an oxygen machine. Gunter caught H1N1 last year, before the vaccine was available.
"It was horrible," Gunter says. "I was off work for six days until I was no longer infectious."
In developed countries, influenza kills more people than any other vaccine-preventable disease, says pediatrician Jon Abramson of Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Families Fighting Flu, a non-profit health group.
Myth 3: This year's shot — which protects against both H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines — is riskier than earlier versions.
Actually, the new flu shot was made the same way as every other flu shot, says Randy Bergen of Kaiser Permanente in Walnut Creek, Calif.
Every year, vaccine makers include circulating viral strains that are most likely to cause illness. Typically, these include two influenza A strains — an H1N1 and an H3N2 — and a strain of influenza B, Abramson says.
This year, manufacturers included the H1N1 strain that caused pandemic last year, Abramson says.
All drugs, including "natural" supplements and vitamins, have side effects. But the safety of vaccines is actually tracked more closely than just about any other drug. Unlike most medicines, "we have more hard facts when it comes to the flu shot," Gunter says.
Through the National Adverse Event Reporting System, investigators check out every serious side effect that people experience after getting a flu shot. Most aren't related to the flu vaccine. In fact, there were no deaths attributed to the H1N1 vaccine last year, Gunter says.
Myth 4: Only sick people need a flu shot.
While older people and newborns are usually at greatest risk for complications, swine flu is actually most threatening to the young.
Typically, about 90% of flu deaths are in people over 65. Last year, however, about 90% of flu deaths were in people under 30. About 10% of flu deaths last year were in children, according to the CDC.
When healthy people get vaccinated, it can help protect the weak, including cancer patients, anyone with a compromised immune system and newborns too young to get the shot, says Paul Offit, chief of infectious disease at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Because babies can't be vaccinated until they're 6 months old, they depend on those around them — parents, grandparents, siblings, babysitters, hospital employees — to get the flu shot, creating a "cocoon" of protection, Bergen says.
Myth 5: Flu shots contain methyl mercury and other toxic chemicals.
Although there's no evidence that the ethyl mercury-based preservative thimerosal causes harm, vaccine makers responded to public concerns in 2001 and stopped using it in most vaccines.
Neither flu shots in individual-dose containers or the FluMist nasal spray contain thimerosal. Flu vaccine kept in multi-dose vials do use thimerosal as a preservative, to prevent the growth of fungus or other potentially dangerous germs, Bergen says. Patients can ask for the thimerosal-free versions.
But scientists note that all mercury is not the same.
Thimerosal contains ethyl mercury, which has not been shown to cause harm, rather than methyl mercury, the type that can cause brain damage, Offit says. While most laypeople don't pay attention to such differences, they're important. Consider the huge difference between ethyl alcohol — or drinking alcohol, found in wine and beer — and methyl alcohol, or wood alcohol, which can cause blindness.
There's also no data to prove that thimerosal causes autism, Offit says. In fact, seven studies now refute that idea.
Gunter notes that flu shots don't use aluminum, which is used in other vaccines as an "adjuvant" to stimulate a stronger immune response.
While many medications and consumer products have trace levels of chemicals, so do our bodies, Offit says. Breast milk has more mercury contamination than vaccines. So does infant formula. But vaccines, like breast milk, play a vital role in keeping infants healthy.
"If you have zero tolerance for mercury, you have to move to another planet," Offit says. "We all have mercury and formaldehyde and aluminum in our bodies. Vaccines don't add to what we normally encounter every day."
Kind of wish I'd taken mine, as I am feeling Fluish. But I was afraid, becuz I had just finished my Triple Tx, and still had Riba in me, and didn't know how that would react with the Flu-shot, etc.
All the other years, for the past 4 yrs, I did get The Flu shot, and avoided how I am feeling now~
All the other years, for the past 4 yrs, I did get The Flu shot, and avoided how I am feeling now~
thought I was going to die (even wished for it a little). "
Kathy you are right the one time I really had it as an adult I really truly thought I was going to die. I remember never being so miserable before in all of my life it was so painful. Nothing like treatment to me I hate when they compare tx side to the flu - the real flu is just beyond horrible and it lasts for so long (I hate when people take two days off from work and come in and say "oh I had the flu" oh no, you did not sorry but nope....)
Glad you got your shot Elaine - we can watch the others at work drop like flies but we'll all hopefully be ok. I haven't gotten it since I started getting the shots either.......there must be something to the vaccine ;)
Kathy you are right the one time I really had it as an adult I really truly thought I was going to die. I remember never being so miserable before in all of my life it was so painful. Nothing like treatment to me I hate when they compare tx side to the flu - the real flu is just beyond horrible and it lasts for so long (I hate when people take two days off from work and come in and say "oh I had the flu" oh no, you did not sorry but nope....)
Glad you got your shot Elaine - we can watch the others at work drop like flies but we'll all hopefully be ok. I haven't gotten it since I started getting the shots either.......there must be something to the vaccine ;)
Got mine yesterday ! along with the whopping cough.
I don't know if they help or not it seems there is always
something going around that I catch every single year.
I don't know if they help or not it seems there is always
something going around that I catch every single year.
Thanks NYGirl. I've gotten the flu shot every year since they started giving them and haven't had the flu since. The last time I got the flu I also got a sinus and ear infection and thought I was going to die (even wished for it a little). If a pin ***** and vaccine keeps me from feeling that way again...so be it. There are enough conspiracy theories without endorsing the ones about flu shots.
"Typically, these include two influenza A strains — an H1N1 and an H3N2 — and a strain of influenza B, Abramson says."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/11/17/international/i193558S54.DTL&tsp=1
From the above article:
"Health Secretary York Chow said late Wednesday that a 59-year-old woman had tested positive for H5N1 bird flu after returning to Hong Kong from the Chinese mainland, and is in serious condition in a local hospital."
If this year's batch didn't include H5N1, it may be a moot point whether you got a shot or not.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/11/17/international/i193558S54.DTL&tsp=1
From the above article:
"Health Secretary York Chow said late Wednesday that a 59-year-old woman had tested positive for H5N1 bird flu after returning to Hong Kong from the Chinese mainland, and is in serious condition in a local hospital."
If this year's batch didn't include H5N1, it may be a moot point whether you got a shot or not.
It's not the syringes that are the problem with a pre 1990's gamma globulin shot, it is the tainted blood product in the shot. The point is that HCV hadn't been formally discovered at that time. And later what could health professionals say to the victims except plead ignorance.
So supposing this flu shot has something toxic in it that causes, say, dementia ten years down the road. It would be the same story. Nobody would know about that yet.
I get it that people who would be at risk of serious illness or death from the flu should get the shot. I just think that the risks of getting the shot should be weighed up and not downplayed. Medicines are not risk free, and who knows that better than the folk on this forum who have done tx.
dointime
So supposing this flu shot has something toxic in it that causes, say, dementia ten years down the road. It would be the same story. Nobody would know about that yet.
I get it that people who would be at risk of serious illness or death from the flu should get the shot. I just think that the risks of getting the shot should be weighed up and not downplayed. Medicines are not risk free, and who knows that better than the folk on this forum who have done tx.
dointime
I'm still trying to get Rocker to come out of exile - if the mercury story can't do it I'll have to start posting government conspiracy theories...either way it's pretty close.
Yeah, well I got vaccinated with gamma globulin in 1986 and you all know what happened to me."
These are just disposable syringes that they use I dont see getting HCV from them. Once I had the real flu in '99 I vowed I'd never get it again. That was ten days of torture that made treatment look like child's play.
Yeah, well I got vaccinated with gamma globulin in 1986 and you all know what happened to me."
These are just disposable syringes that they use I dont see getting HCV from them. Once I had the real flu in '99 I vowed I'd never get it again. That was ten days of torture that made treatment look like child's play.
Yeah, well I got vaccinated with gamma globulin in 1986 and you all know what happened to me.
I'm sure most health professionals believe that their work promotes the health of their patients but that don't make it so.
Ok, color me paranoid,
dointime
I'm sure most health professionals believe that their work promotes the health of their patients but that don't make it so.
Ok, color me paranoid,
dointime
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