Does the flu shot cause the flu?
Let me tell you, without a doubt, that the flu shot does not give you the flu. This is perhaps one of the most common misconceptions I hear as a physician. People absolutely swear by it. I’ve even had people tell me that family members got the flu shot and then died suddenly. I’m sympathetic, but how misguided!
Before we talk more about the flu shot, let me explain why influenza is so dangerous. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are between 12,000 to 56,000 deaths and tens of thousands of hospitalizations from influenza each year. Individuals at the extremes of age (i.e., very young or very old), pregnant women, and those with chronic medical problems are at greatest risk. However, this infection can kill healthy people. I see it every year and it’s tragic. Mark my words, once flu season peaks this winter, you will see stories on the national news about otherwise healthy people dying from the flu. It can be really scary.
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