Flu Myth #1: The flu is annoying but harmless

The flu is more than body aches and missed work days. There can be some serious implications. The flu hospitalizes 200,000 people in the United States each year and 36,000 of those people do not survive. The amount of deaths caused by the flu is close to the number of women killed by breast cancer each year and more than twice the number of people killed by AIDS.

Flu Myth #2: The flu vaccine can give you the flu

It is impossible to get the flu from the flu vaccine because it contains a dead virus, which can longer infect you. The nasal spray vaccine contains a live virus, but it is specifically engineered to remove the parts of the virus that can make you sick.

Flu Myth #3: There is no treatment for the flu

Antiviral medications, such as Tamilflu and Relenza, can reduce the amount of time your sick and make you less contagious. Antiviral medications can also help prevent the flu for someone who has been exposed to the flu or someone who might be at great risk from flu complications due to illness.

Flu Myth #4: Antibiotics can fight the flu

Antibiotics can only fight bacterial infections. Because the flu is caused by a virus, antibiotics have no effect on the flu.

Flu Myth #5: The flu is only dangerous for the elderly

True that people over 65 are most likely to become seriously ill and die from the flu, but the virus is risky for everyone, even young adults. Some of the most susceptible people are young children.

Flu Myth #6: The “Stomach flu” is a form on influenza

The “stomach flu” is actually not the flu at all. In fact, it is a gastrointestinal virus that has no connection to the influenza virus. If you do not have body aches or fever, chances are that you do not have the flu.

Flu Myth #7: If you get the flu, you can’t get it again during that flu season

The flu is not a single virus. In every flu season, there are usually two types of influenza in circulation that can cause the flu. If you’ve already had the flu, you should still get vaccinated so that you do not become infected with the other type of flu-causing virus.

Flu Myth #8: If you’re young and healthy, you don’t need to worry about getting the vaccine

Everyone should get the flu vaccine so that they do not have to undergo the symptoms. However, protecting yourself isn’t the only reason to get vaccinated. Even if you might recover from the flu just fine, you could be spreading the flu virus to those who might not be able to fight the symptoms as well as yourself, like young children and older adults.

Flu Myth #9: You can skip years between flu vaccinations

The dominant strains of flu change every year, so every year the vaccine changes too. After the flu season ends, the old vaccine is worthless and you’ll need to get a new one the following flu season.

Flu Myth #10: Vaccines are dangerous

Some people believe that the ingredient thimerosal in the flu vaccine causes developmental disorders in children, like autism. However, no study has ever found the connection. For people who are still concerned, ask your doctor to give your child a thimerosal-free flu vaccine.

Flu Myth #11: Cold weather causes the flu

Because flu season is during the colder months of the year it may seem as though cold weather is a cause of the flu, but it isn’t. Going outside in the cold will not increase your risk of getting the flu. The only risk you have of getting the flu from being out in the cold is coming into contact with someone else who has the flu.

Flu Myth #12: If you haven’t gotten the flu vaccine by November, there’s no point in getting the vaccine at all

Supplies of vaccine used to run out by November. Now there is enough vaccine to last into December or January and the flu doesn’t hit its peak until February, sometimes even as late as March.

*source WebMD