COVID-19 and Flu Shot Myths

You might hear a lot of conflicting or confusing information and myths about vaccination on social media, especially related to the COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Read on to learn the facts from trusted Sutter doctors and medical professionals. 

The best way to avoid COVID-19 and the flu is to get vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone age 6 months and older get a flu shot every year, ideally in September or October. Staying up to date with the COVID-19 vaccine is just as important. You can schedule both vaccines together through Sutter.

Both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines are safe and effective. Getting vaccinated also protects your family and community, especially people who are high-risk for severe illness from respiratory illnesses. Don’t let misinformation keep you from getting the immunizations you need. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Myths

MYTH: The vaccine will give you COVID-19. 
None of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines contain the live virus. This means that it’s not possible to get COVID-19 from any of the vaccines.

MYTH: The COVID vaccines will alter my DNA. 
COVID-19 vaccines don’t change or interact with your DNA in any way.  The mRNA vaccines deliver instructions to our cells to start building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. All COVID vaccines work with the body’s natural defenses to safely develop immunity to disease. 

MYTH: I don’t need the vaccine because I’ve had COVID-19. The antibodies will protect me.
Even after infection, it’s important to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Studies have shown that vaccination provides a strong boost in protection in people who have recovered from COVID-19. You can get COVID again even if you’ve already had it.

MYTH: The COVID vaccines always have terrible side effects.
The most common side effects from the COVID-19 vaccines are similar to those of the flu vaccine. You may have redness, soreness and swelling at the vaccine site that subsides after a day or two. If you had a severe allergic reaction after the first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC recommends that additional doses should be with an alternative vaccine type.

MYTH: It’s not a good idea to get a COVID-19 vaccine when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Based on California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidelines, pregnancy is considered a high-risk condition with an increased chance of complications from COVID-19. With a readily available, FDA-approved vaccine, and more than four years of extensive experience in this population, the value of this vaccine is clear. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective during any trimester of gestation and when you’re breastfeeding. Discuss the risks of COVID and the COVID vaccines during pregnancy with your healthcare provider.

Flu Shot Myths

MYTH: My flu shot gave me the flu. 
You can't get the flu from the flu vaccine. The viruses inside the vaccine are dead and can’t infect you. The vaccine takes 2 weeks to work, so it's possible to get the flu before the vaccine becomes effective. That's not from the vaccine. Vaccines are your best bet for avoiding serious illness, hospitalization and death from the flu.

MYTH: I never get the flu, so I don’t need the vaccine.  
Studies have shown that half the people infected with the flu virus didn't know they were sick because they had mild symptoms. Even people with very mild or no symptoms can spread the virus for up to a week. That doesn’t mean that the virus will always just cause mild disease. The flu virus changes every year and can cause extremely severe disease one season when it was mild in previous years. 

MYTH: The flu shot always has side effects. 
The most common side effects of flu vaccines are redness, swelling and soreness at the injection site. Not everyone experiences these reactions, and they usually only last up to a couple of days when they do occur.

Since 2023, the CDC has said that people with egg allergies no longer need special safety steps to get a flu shot, no matter how serious their past reactions were. Talk to your primary care provider if you have questions about allergies and vaccines.

MYTH: I can’t have the flu shot because I'm pregnant. 
A flu infection during pregnancy is more likely to cause severe disease resulting in hospitalization. The infection may also be harmful to the developing baby. California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommends a flu vaccine for anyone who's pregnant during flu season, regardless of your stage of pregnancy. The vaccine reduces the risk of hospitalization due to the flu for pregnant people by 40%. Pregnant people should not get the FluMist nasal spray vaccine. 

If you have more questions, talk to your primary care provider.