5 common myths about seasonal flu

This is an automatically translated article.

Many people think that getting a flu shot can make them sick. This is not true at all, because vaccines are made up of viral components, not the whole virus.
The flu has been around for a long time. And the advice you often hear is "if you go out in the cold without wearing warm clothes or your hair is wet, you are more likely to catch a cold". However, there are studies that prove that we do not get sick because of this.
ABC news quoted comments from Dr. William Schaffner, an expert in preventive medicine at Vanderbilt Medical School, and Philip Tierno, an expert in microbiology and clinical immunology, New York University (USA) about 5 The most common misconceptions about the flu:
1. Getting vaccinated against the flu can make you sick with the flu "This is a common myth no matter how hard we try to spread the word. This is absolutely not true. ", Schaffner said.
He said the flu vaccine is made up of parts of the virus, not the whole virus. That's why you can't get sick while being vaccinated. The new flu vaccine, in spray form, contains a weakened virus. As a result, you may experience some symptoms, such as a sore throat or runny nose, but only for about a day. The virus will not be able to enter the lungs and cause the flu.
A lot of people who got the flu shot think they're still sick. Therefore, according to them, the vaccination is not really effective. "The protective effect of the vaccine can't be 100%, it's only 50 to 70%. But it will weaken the virus, so you won't get sick," said Philip Tierno.
If a person has been vaccinated but still has the flu, it is usually less severe than if not vaccinated.
"Vaccines are not perfect. We know that influenza viruses have the ability to change or mutate, and in that case, this year's flu vaccine will not be completely effective against mutated influenza viruses circulating in the community. ", Schaffner said.
Besides, the older the person, the less effective the vaccine is. However, getting vaccinated is still necessary, because even if you get the flu, you will avoid the risk of it getting worse, leading to pneumonia or hospitalization.
To prevent disease, vaccination is necessary. However, it is equally important to wash your hands with soap. This is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of colds, flu and many other illnesses.
2. Young, healthy people don't need vaccinations Young, healthy adults may not think they need vaccinations, that vaccines are only for young children and the elderly. However, according to experts, this is not true.
"The flu virus circulates strongly in the winter. Anyone can get sick, even a perfectly healthy person may need intensive care within 2 days of being infected with the virus," Schaffner said.
Even with the school having only mild flu, while their body is not weakened, it is still a threat to others. You may not feel sick, be able to go to school or work, but you can still spread the virus to others. The outbreak of the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic proved that the younger the person, the more susceptible they are to severe illness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA) recommends that anyone over 6 months old should be vaccinated.
3. Vitamins and herbs are the 'crushes' of diseases Although vitamin C and some other herbs can help your body fight off illnesses like colds and flu, the data shows claims. This claim may be a bit overblown.
"There have been many studies on the therapeutic effects of vitamins and herbs. However, there is still no consensus. There are studies that show it's effective, but there are studies that prove otherwise," says Shaffner.

There is an old, widely used herbal remedy that actually weakens the virus, which is anise. Modern medicines have taken advantage of this plant. It's one of the main ingredients in Tamiflu, an antiviral drug.
4. Take antibiotics to treat the flu "Because the cause of colds and flu is a virus and not a bacteria, taking antibiotics won't work. Now we know there are medicines available. Antiviral antivirals like Tamiflu can make the disease milder," Schaffner said. Many people believe that people with flu symptoms should be treated with antiviral drugs as soon as possible, especially those who are prone to complications. proof. This is true for some people in certain age groups, such as the elderly, who are more susceptible to pneumonia when they have the flu. However, using antibiotics for viruses is not only ineffective, but can also lead to resistance. medicine.
5. No need for booster shots "Influenza viruses change from year to year, so do vaccines. That's why experts recommend getting a flu shot every year. However, every year. "This is probably the most special year because the strain of the flu virus this year is the same as last year. You still need to get vaccinated, though," Tierno said. The reason is that there is no evidence that the dose of vaccine you received from the previous year is still the same. protective effect. While if more injections are given, the protective effect of the vaccine will be higher.

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