Vaccine Myths and Facts

Here are a few taken from Public Health Agency of Canada

Myth: “I’m healthy and I never get sick; there is no reason for me to get the flu vaccine.”

Fact: Everyone is at risk of catching the H1N1 influenza (flu) virus, including healthy young adults. The flu, either the H1N1 flu or the seasonal flu, can be a serious illness that can lead to hospitalization and death. Even if you are healthy and never get sick you can still carry the flu virus in your body and infect others.

Myth: The H1N1 flu outbreak has peaked, there’s no reason for me to get the flu vaccine now.

Fact: Getting the H1N1 flu vaccine is still very important. By encouraging all Canadians to get the H1N1 flu vaccine, we hope to lessen the impact of the pandemic and a possible third wave of the H1N1 flu. Up to half of Canadians are probably still susceptible to the H1N1 flu because they have not already had the H1N1 flu or they have not got the H1N1 flu shot. Whether the flu activity in your community is high or low, getting the vaccine is still necessary in order to reduce the risk of serious illness and death. Moving forward, it is possible that the H1N1 flu virus will mutate and the adjuvanted vaccine may provide protection against some mutations in the H1N1 flu virus.

For more information please read more myths and facts.

Last Updated: 2010-02-18
Author: Ty Petkau