Minnesotans urged to get flu shot

The Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) is urging Minnesotans, ages 6 months or older, to get a flu shot.

Despite pleas by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many people have still not gotten one. The CDC says the flu and its complications rank as the eighth leading cause of death nationwide, accounting for about 49,000 deaths and nearly 200,000 hospitalizations annually.

“There are many misconceptions that go with flu shots,” said Dan Maddox, M.D., MMA president and allergist from the Mayo Clinic. “Whether you’ve gotten the flu in the past or not, it’s best to take preventive action to avoid it this season.”

Here are some myths:

A flu shot can give you the flu. The injectable flu vaccine is a 100 percent dead, broken-up virus and is not infectious.

Odds are you won’t get sick. How often this winter will you be in the same room/elevator/auto with someone who is coughing, sneezing and doing their best to infect you?

You’re healthy, so getting the flu is no big deal. Influenza hits the strong and healthy. And, there’s not much a physician can do after you have it.

Flu shots are useless after November. The flu season changes every year. Things like air travel spread viruses quickly. It takes 10 to 14 days to develop immunity after getting the flu shot.

Pregnant women can’t be vaccinated. Getting immunized during pregnancy protects women and infants for the first 6 months of life when they can’t be vaccinated.

Find where to get a flu shot on the Minnesota Department of Health website at www.health.state. mn.us/index.html.

Tags: life, flu, shots, immunized