[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/06\/flu-shot-does-not-cause-the-flu\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/06\/flu-shot-does-not-cause-the-flu\/","headline":"Hype Can Kill: The Flu Shot Does NOT Cause the Flu","name":"Hype Can Kill: The Flu Shot Does NOT Cause the Flu","description":"One of the most devastating myths I hear about the flu vaccine is that it can give you the flu. \u201cI t the flu vaccine once, and I t the flu, so I\u2019m never getting the shot again.\u201d This is something patients say too often. And it\u2019s simply not true. See why the flu shot does not cause the flu in our blog!","datePublished":"2019-06-01","dateModified":"2021-04-15","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/campaigns\/southcentral-pa","name":"UPMC Harrisburg","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/campaigns\/southcentral-pa","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-harrisburg\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/flu-shot-does-not-cause-the-flu.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/flu-shot-does-not-cause-the-flu.jpg","height":325,"width":751},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/06\/flu-shot-does-not-cause-the-flu\/","about":["Living and Wellness"],"wordCount":581,"keywords":["Pinnacle Health"],"articleBody":"Flu is the top cause of vaccine-preventable deaths in the United States.One of the most devastating myths I hear about the flu vaccine is that it can give you the flu. \u201cI got the flu vaccine once, and I got the flu, so I\u2019m never getting the shot again.\u201d This is something patients say too often. And it\u2019s simply not true.You cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine. The vaccine is made from an inactivated virus that can\u2019t transmit infection. So, why does this myth persist?What\u2019s the flu hype about?It\u2019s human nature to want to associate a cause-and-effect relationship when something bad happens. Over thousands of years, it\u2019s how we\u2019ve learned to survive. If we eat something that makes us feel sick, our instincts tell us not to eat that food again. Certain smells, images and past experiences can turn our stomachs. It\u2019s nature\u2019s way of saying, \u201cYou\u2019d better stay away from that.\u201d But our instincts can be wrong.The flu shot CAN sometimes cause a low grade fever or some aches. This is your body\u2019s way of telling you that it\u2019s making you immune to the real deal. It won\u2019t last long. And feeling crummy for a few hours or a day is a lot better than having the flu for a week to 10 days.Sadly, our incorrect reaction to the flu vaccine does much harm. You can pass the flu on to someone before you have symptoms, while you\u2019re sick, and up to a week after you start feeling bad. So, not getting vaccinated means you can get the flu. And if you get the flu, you could be spreading it around before you even know it.The flu vaccine is also given around the time of year when colds and other viruses are very common. \u00a0People who get ill after the vaccine were likely already exposed to another virus when they were vaccinated and were going to get ill anyway.How can you prevent the flu?The flu is very contagious. You can get it from people coughing or sneezing up to six feet away from you. You can pick up the virus from gas pump handles or ATM machine keys.Washing your hands during flu season is very important. The flu is a virus. So don\u2019t bother with antibacterial soap. Wash your hands with any soap and do it often. Make sure you lather up your hands well and don\u2019t rush the job. And keeping your hands away from your face can keep you from moving the virus from your hands into your body.Getting the flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself. Everyone 6 months and older should get it every year (with some exceptions in special cases). It will help guard you against the 3 or 4 strains predicted to strike hard that flu season.The flu is most dangerous for children, people ages 65 and older, and those with other health problems. About 90 percent of people who die from the flu are older adults.Don\u2019t buy into a myth that can harm you or those you love. Even if it\u2019s into November, a flu shot can still help protect you. Flu season is usually the worst from December through February, but it can last into April or May.For more information about the flu or the flu vaccine, please visit UPMCPinnacle.com\/flu. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2019","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"06","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/\/06\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Hype Can Kill: The Flu Shot Does NOT Cause the Flu","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/06\/flu-shot-does-not-cause-the-flu\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]