Post by LadyBlue on Jan 10, 2013 13:49:13 GMT -5
The virus causing the most problems: A particular strain of type A influenza called H3N2 has been the most predominantly reported this year. Luckily, this year’s flu vaccine is very well matched to H3N2, which has been historically associated with more severe illness
“There were certain vaccines in the past that did cause problems,” Esper said, alluding to a 1976 vaccine that caused Guillian-Barre syndrome (a neurologic disorder) in a small amount of people.
“It happens once, and people start saying how the [vaccine can cause severe problems]. But all these vaccines that we are producing in the U.S have been tested for this problem, and all sorts of other problems and have been well proven to be safe and effective,” Esper added.
Apart from the hesitancy surrounding the flu vaccine, there are also a number of propagated myths associated with the shot. The biggest one: You can get the flu from getting the flu shot.
Because the flu vaccine is developed utilizing parts of the influenza virus, many people believe the virus in the vaccine can ultimately make them sick. But Esper laid that myth to rest.
“The flu shot has absolutely no live virus in there,” Esper said. “It’s a bunch of pieces and parts. Think of it as if I take the flu, chop it up into little bits and put those bits into the shot. You cannot get the flu from the shot because it doesn’t contain all the parts of the flu virus.”
www.foxnews.com/health/2013/01/10/flu-outbreak-why-are-so-many-not-getting-vaccinated/
“There were certain vaccines in the past that did cause problems,” Esper said, alluding to a 1976 vaccine that caused Guillian-Barre syndrome (a neurologic disorder) in a small amount of people.
“It happens once, and people start saying how the [vaccine can cause severe problems]. But all these vaccines that we are producing in the U.S have been tested for this problem, and all sorts of other problems and have been well proven to be safe and effective,” Esper added.
Apart from the hesitancy surrounding the flu vaccine, there are also a number of propagated myths associated with the shot. The biggest one: You can get the flu from getting the flu shot.
Because the flu vaccine is developed utilizing parts of the influenza virus, many people believe the virus in the vaccine can ultimately make them sick. But Esper laid that myth to rest.
“The flu shot has absolutely no live virus in there,” Esper said. “It’s a bunch of pieces and parts. Think of it as if I take the flu, chop it up into little bits and put those bits into the shot. You cannot get the flu from the shot because it doesn’t contain all the parts of the flu virus.”
www.foxnews.com/health/2013/01/10/flu-outbreak-why-are-so-many-not-getting-vaccinated/