Planning on getting a flu shot? There are some pros and cons to getting vaccinated. Below you will find some of the reasons why it is a good idea for you to get a flu shot, and also certain things about it that may leave you having second thoughts. Weighing the advantages and disadvantages allows you to come up with the right decision.
Pros
It’s not going to give you the flu
Contrary to popular belief, you won’t have a bout of flu after getting vaccinated. While the vaccine indeed contains the flu virus, it is actually considerably weakened — so weak that it’s incapable of starting an infection. If you end up with a flu a couple of days after getting the shot, chances are you were already infected — the symptoms of a flu can take up to a week before they show up.
You can get protected for up to a year
It’s no secret that new strains of the flu various tend to show up from time to time. Are you wondering if you will get the flu if the particular strain of flu virus that has invaded your body is not included in the vaccine that you got? Doctors say that you may have the flu, but less severe.
There is a way to get vaccinated without getting pricked by a needle
These days, there is a flu vaccine that can be administered nasally, which means that it is introduced into your body by having it sprayed into your nose. Experts say that it’s just as effective as the injectable counterpart. It’s important to note that the nasal spray flu vaccine can be administered only to healthy individuals 2 years old and older, but less than 50 years old.
It’s possible to get it free of charge
More and more companies are providing their employees with free flu shots in order to save them from going down with the flu and not showing up at work. So if one of the reasons why you are not yet vaccinated is the cost, ask your boss about getting a shot for free.
Cons
The flu shot cannot give immediate protection
Doctors say that it can take up to a couple of weeks before the flu shot finally springs into action, which means that you may still end up with the flu even after getting the shot. And even if the vaccine has already taken effect, there is no guarantee that you are 100% out of the woods — yes, you can still end up with the flu even after getting vaccinated, but the risk is considerably lowered.
Getting the flu shot is not for everyone
Just because you want to get shielded from the flu doesn’t mean that you can get vaccinated. According to doctors, some of those who are not eligible for it include children younger than 6 months and people who develop life-threatening allergic reactions to flu vaccine or any of its ingredients.
It’s not for you if you are allergic to eggs
Did you know that the flu vaccine is cultivated inside the egg of a chicken? And that is why you cannot get the shot if you are clearly allergic to chicken eggs.
These are the pros and cons of a flu shot. It’s a good idea for you to talk with your trusted doctor about your plan on getting vaccinated — he or she is someone who can help you decide whether it’s worth it or not.
