The holiday season is in full swing—and so is flu season. With your annual flu shot from St. Francis Urgent Care in Monroe, LA, you can help keep the flu out of your holiday plans! Are there any flu shot myths holding you back from getting your vaccine? Let’s debunk a few of these myths so that you can have greater confidence in your yearly flu shot.
Myth #1: The Shot’s Side Effects Are Worse Than Getting the Flu
Even though the flu shot contains the inactive virus, patients will not contract the flu after getting their vaccination. If you are concerned about experiencing side effects from the flu shot, know that serious effects are extremely rare. Possible side effects of the flu shot include:
- Soreness at the injection site
- Fever
- Nausea
- Muscle aches
If these symptoms should develop, they typically last no more than one to two days.
When compared to symptoms of the virus itself, the side effects of the flu shot are significantly less severe. Flu symptoms often include:
- Fever
- Cough or sore throat
- Body aches
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Headaches
- And fatigue
Some patients may recover from these symptoms within a few days, but others take up to two weeks for a full recovery. And in some circumstances, other complications may develop which can be life-threatening. Pre-existing respiratory conditions or immune deficiencies put patients at greater risk of catching the flu and developing severe symptoms. But with the added defense of getting your flu shot in Monroe, LA, you stand a better chance of warding off the virus or having lighter, shorter symptoms.
Myth #2: If I Got My Shot Last Year, I Don’t Need It This Year
While flu season occurs every year, the active strain changes. Each flu vaccine is developed with an inactive strain of the season’s active flu viruses. Once injected into the body, your natural immune response is triggered. Your immune system jumps into action and develops antibodies to rid your body of the virus. Not only does this erase the inactive virus from your system, but it also protects you against the currently circulating strains.
Since the active strains change every year, it is important to make sure that you are protected from the current active viruses. And with the New Year approaching, why not make wellness one of your resolutions? Stop by our clinic to get your flu shot in Monroe, LA.
Myth #3: Vitamin C Will Protect Me From Getting Sick, So I Don’t Need a Flu Shot
While vitamin C may provide health benefits, it is not a preventative for the flu. It is true that vitamin C may be marginally beneficial when it comes to shortening the duration of cold and flu symptoms. But, when it comes to warding off a case of the cold or flu, vitamin C supplements have been shown to have little to no effect. On the other hand, flu shots can reduce the risk of illness by 40% to 60%. When choosing the best methods for protecting your family from flu season, choose proven prevention with your seasonal flu shot!
Get Your Flu Shot Today in Monroe, LA
The flu shot’s effectiveness is no myth. Don’t enter the New Year without the protection you need! Visit St. Francis Urgent Care in Monroe for your annual vaccine. We also offer a second location in West Monroe for your convenience. Simply come by our urgent care clinics or check-in online to hold your place in line. We are dedicated to providing you with quality healthcare, from flu shots to COVID testing and more. Let us dispel the myths of flu season and vaccines to help you start your year off well.