It’s flu season once again and with the influenza vaccine becoming widely available, myths and misunderstandings about it are bound to spread as well. Here are the 3 most common misconceptions about the flu vaccine and why you should get your shots.

The influenza vaccine will give you the flu.
Flu vaccines are made with inactivated viruses, meaning, they can no longer cause an infection. Flu vaccines are also tested for safety using randomized and blinded studies. You might experience flu symptoms for a few days after the shot but that is simply a sign that your body is building its defenses and is a good thing.

Seasonal influenza vaccines wane.
Getting vaccinated early in the season does not make you more vulnerable to the flu. In fact, one shot makes you immune for the next 12 months. As soon as the vaccine is ready, it’s perfectly alright to get your shot.

Once you get the shot, you’re protected.
That really depends. The influenza vaccine does protect you from certain viruses, but not all viruses and germs. If you do get sick, it could be caused by another type of virus or germs. The flu vaccine, however, will help prevent complications.

Earlier this month the World Health Organization announced that the H1N1 flu (swine flu) worldwide epidemic is over. The H1N1 pandemic was surprisingly mild compared to previous pandemics. Although it killed approximately 18,000 people worldwide, the flu’s fatality rate was only comparable to that of seasonal flu. Part of the reason for H1N1’s relative mildness was attributed to swift action by world governments and a very effective influenza vaccine.

H1N1 originally broke out in Veracruz, Mexico, in spring 2009. By June it was declared a pandemic by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Spread by droplets expelled by the infected subject, the influenza virus followed typical transmission routes for seasonal flu. The flu’s symptoms include fever, cough, headache, and fatigue.

What made H1N1 unusual were its victims. While the elderly and adults with compromised immune systems were at higher risk to catch the disease, the influenza was particularly fatal to children with chronic health problems. In fact, it was far more lethal to that segment than seasonal flu.

Though the flu vaccine recommended for the 2010 flu season contains the H1N1 vaccine, WHO’s recent announcement should allay fears of an H1N1 influenza pandemic like that of last season.

The H1NI influenza virus made the 2009-10 flu season particularly dangerous. Fortunately, swift action by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) and healthcare practitioners nationwide prevented what could have been a far more serious outbreak. This season, according to the CDCP, we should be spared as well, through a combination of a better influenza vaccine and a milder climate overall.

The new flu vaccine has cleared the last phase of influenza trials and has now been approved for distribution. The 2010-11 vaccine contains the H1NI vaccine in addition to two seasonal flu vaccines. Only one vaccine will needed to protect against the anticipated strains for this season.

The CDCP has also changed its guidelines. Now it recommends the flu vaccine for anyone over the age of six months, and that most kids up to age eight should receive two doses of the vaccine.

The CDCP estimates that between five and twenty percent of all Americans catch the influenza virus every year. This leads to approximately 36,000 deaths per year. The young and elderly are particularly at risk for flu-related fatality. Annual vaccinations are the key component to fighting the spread of this deadly infection.