How Effective is the Flu Vaccine: 10 Questions on Patient Misconceptions

August 24, 2021

Slideshow Quiz

Influenza season brings vaccine fear and misconceptions every year. Stay ahead of patients with our quiz on their questions for you.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still in full swing, flu season is right around the corner. As an especially difficult season is predicted, flu vaccination—like COVID-19 vaccination—is faced with challenges created by common misconceptions, confusion, and vaccine hesitancy.

In Misconceptions about Seasonal Flu and Flu Vaccines, the CDC offers facts and information to correct many of the inaccuracies about flu vaccination and its effectiveness your patients might have. Take this quick quiz to test your knowledge of key points.

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Flu shot 1. According to estimates, flu vaccination prevented how many influenza illnesses during 2019-2020?

Answer: C. The flu shot prevented 7.5 million influenza cases in 2019-2020.

Flu shot 2. If the flu shot is going to make me feel sick, it’s just better to get the flu than to get vaccinated.

Answer: B. False. Getting the influenza vaccination is a safer choice than risking illness to obtain immune protection.

Flu shot 3. I’ve heard people can get flu symptoms even after they have been vaccinated against flu. Why?

Answer: D. People also can become ill from respiratory viruses other than flu, such as rhinoviruses, that cause symptoms similar to those of flu.

Flu shot 4. . Getting a flu vaccine can increase a person’s susceptibility to other respiratory viruses.

Answer: B. False. A study from 2012 suggested that flu vaccination might increase susceptibility to other respiratory viruses, but results were never replicated.

Flu shot 5. Getting a flu vaccine can give you the flu.

Answer: B. False. The flu vaccine does not cause the flu.

Flu shot 6. Variability in the effectiveness of a flu vaccine from one season to another might be influenced by which of the above?

Answer: D. A, B, and C. The protection that a flu vaccine provides may depend on individual characteristics, the match between the viruses in the vaccine and in circulation, and potentially, which type of flu vaccine was used.

Flu shot 7. Flu vaccination is a preventive tool for persons who have which of these chronic health conditions?

Answer: C. A, B, and C. Flu vaccination has been associated with lower rates of cardiac events in those with heart disease; reduced worsening, hospitalization for flu-related chronic lung disease, reduced hospitalizations among those with diabetes and chronic lung disease.

Flu shot 8. Getting vaccinated twice in a flu season provides added immunity.

Answer: B. False. No benefit has been shown from getting more than 1 dose of vaccine during the same flu season for adults, even older persons who have weakened immune systems.