With flu season in full-force it's common for parents to have questions about the vaccine. If you haven't had your child vaccinated yet or aren't sure whether you should, take a look at some of the most common flu shot myths and the truths about them.
Timing of the Vaccine
Flu season typically starts in late fall, peaking in mid- to late-winter. While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that children (and adults) 6-months and older get the shot by the end of October, the idea that this is the only time to get the vaccine is a myth.
On average it takes two weeks, following vaccination, for the flu shot to become effective. If flu season starts during the late fall, the theory is that a mid-October shot provides your child with effectiveness before the illness strikes - along with throughout the duration of the season. But if your child doesn't get the vaccination by late fall, they still have time.
A vaccination any time during flu season is better than no vaccination at all. While a mid- or late-winter vaccination won't stop a child from getting the flu in November, it can provide protection in February or March. If your child hasn't gotten their shot, and the winter is nearing its end, you can still talk to the pediatrician about vaccination.
Safety of the Vaccine
One of the largest most pervasive myths in childhood medicine is that vaccines harm children. While there are cases of vaccine-related injuries, some of them serious or with life-long consequences, these are
not the norm.
Before assuming that the flu, or any vaccine, will hurt your child, ask the pediatrician about the facts and statistics. One of the primary alarmist studies on vaccination and its potential for negative side effects (in this case, autism) was debunked years ago. The author of the study (which has since been retracted by the medical journal The Lancet), British doctor Andrew Wakefield, lost his medical license following an investigation into his findings.
Unless your child is allergic to the vaccine, allergic to one of the components in the vaccine, or has a health issue-related contraindication, the flu shot is typically safer than getting the flu.
Illnesses from the Vaccine
Along with safety issues, the myth that the flu shot causes the flu is another common cause for concern. Again, this is a myth-and not a fact. According to the CDC, the flu vaccine cannot cause the illnesses.
Your child may feel soreness near the injection site or develop a low fever, a headache, muscle aches, or nausea following the shot. These are typically mild immune response symptoms and do not indicate that your child has the flu.
Even though the vaccine can't give your child the flu, they can still get sick after having the shot. It's possible that your child could come in contact with the flu virus prior to getting the vaccine or during the two-week timespan that it takes the shot to become fully effective. If this happens, it may seem like the vaccine made your child sick. But your child was already sick before the vaccination started working.
Some flu vaccines, depending on the year and the strains, aren't completely effective. A study from Rice University found that the 2018 vaccine is 20 percent effective, while the CDC notes that the shot can reduce the risk of developing illness by 40 to 60 percent. If your child does get the flu, the vaccine's protection may reduce the severity of the symptoms.
Healthy Children and the Vaccine
Your child is generally healthy. They have a strong immune system and tend to fight off disease well. Does that mean they don't need an annual flu shot? It's a myth that healthy children don't need the vaccine. While a well-functioning immune system can help to fight diseases (such as the flu) it doesn't provide the same level of protection as the vaccine.
