Thomas Jefferson Health District

Flu Prevention and the Flu Vaccine

Why should I get vaccinated against the flu? I am healthy and never get sick.

• Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization or death
• Healthy people can get sick from the flu
• By getting the vaccine, you protect those who aren’t so healthy (babies, seniors, and people who have chronic conditions like diabetes or asthma)
• Most health insurances cover the cost of vaccine

The vaccine will make me sick and can give me the flu

• The flu shot is made from inactivated viruses that cannot cause the flu. A few people may get some aches and low-grade fever one to two days after a flu shot, but this is not the same as having the flu. It is possible that you get the flu right after a flu shot because it takes up to two weeks for the vaccine to work (your body needs time to build up the antibodies that fight the virus). The vaccine in the nasal spray is made from a live virus that has been modified so that it cannot cause disease. The vaccine undergoes a lot of testing so that it is very safe for everyone.

Why do I need a Flu vaccine every year?

• Flu viruses are constantly changing. The flu vaccine is formulated each year to keep up with the flu viruses as they change.