Monthly Health Articles Archive

Myth busters for common flu shot excuses

Do you always have a good excuse ready when it’s time to get your flu vaccine?  At Kossuth Regional Health Center Community Health, we encourage all people aged six months and older to protect themselves from the flu by getting the vaccine every fall.  We’ve done a little myth busting on the top five excuses for not getting a flu vaccine.

Excuse #1: I never get sick.

Even if you rarely get sick, you may end up getting the flu or, worse, passing it onto someone else with a much more fragile immune system.  Influenza can lead to pneumonia and be dangerous for those with heart or breathing conditions and can cause high fever, diarrhea and even seizures in young children.  Rates of infection are highest among children.  Getting the flu involves fever, chills, headache, runny nose, sore throat, cough, fatigue and weakness.  When you get your vaccine, you protect yourself and others around you from obtaining the flu.

Excuse #2: I got one last year and I still got sick. 

The flu shot isn’t a magic bullet.  It won’t cure you from all winter colds and coughs.  It is meant to help prevent influenza, and is a little bit different every year.  Each year the seasonal flu vaccine contains three influenza virus strains, which are selected based on forecasts about which strains are likely to cause illness this particular flu season.  The effectiveness of the flu vaccine depends on how well matched the viruses are to those that were forecasted.  In years when the strains are well matched, the vaccine can reduce your chances of getting the flu by 70 to 90% in healthy adults. 

Excuse #3:  I don’t like shots. 

For healthy people aged two to 49 years old, the FluMist is available.  This is a gentle nasal spray flu vaccine that is administered by a health care professional.  The FluMist is available at all KRHC flu vaccine clinics.  The FluMist is not for everyone, however.  Talk to your health care provider about whether you are a good candidate for the FluMist.  For many people it is a great non-needle alternative for vaccination.

Excuse #4:  I can’t afford to get vaccinated. 

Many insurance plans cover an annual flu vaccine, so check with your insurance company.  Medicare Part B and Title 19 also cover an annual flu shot.  Children without insurance can explore the Vaccine for Children program available through Community Health.  For more information about this program, contact us at 515.295.4430.

Excuse #5: I don’t know where to get my flu shot. 

KRHC Community Health is offering a variety of flu vaccine clinics this fall, including our biggest walk-in clinic on November 1 at Algona High School from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Also, beginning October 16 the KRHC Clinic will offer walk-in vaccines on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 4:30 p.m. 

For more information about flu vaccines, go to www.krhc.com or call the Flu Info Line at 515-295-4451 or 1-800-603-8433, ext. 698.

-Mary Hilbert is a nurse with KRHC Community Health