When you search for info about vaccines, the Internet will give you plenty. But not everything you read is true. You'll want to know what's real and helpful, and what's just false.
Myth: I got all my vaccines as a child, so I’m done with those shots.
Not so. "The immunity we get from vaccinations wanes over time," says Danelle Fisher, MD, vice chair of pediatrics at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.
You may also have missed a dose of a vaccine as a child or were given an older, weaker version.
"If you can't remember when you got your last vaccinations and were a baby or young child, talk to your doctor," Fisher says. "It might be a great time to get a booster."
Myth: I can’t get the flu vaccine because I’m allergic to eggs.
Yes, you can. Today's vaccine has less egg protein than in the past, so most people with egg allergies can safely get any flu vaccine that's appropriate for their health and age.
If you or your child gets hives after eating eggs, it's still safe to get a flu shot. But if you ever had a severe reaction to eggs, or if you needed emergency treatment, you should get the flu shot from a doctor -- either at his office, a hospital, a clinic, or a health department. A severe reaction includes things like trouble breathing, swelling, light-headedness, or throwing up.
Myth: Older adults don’t need vaccines.
You never outgrow the need for a yearly flu vaccine. Plus, there are other vaccines that grown-ups need, including:
- The shingles vaccine, which is recommended for adults 60 and older
- The two pneumococcal vaccines, which are recommended for people 65 and older. (People with certain medical conditions should get them earlier.)
You should also keep up with any boosters you need for protection against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough (also called pertussis). Remember, with whooping cough, anyone who's going to be around babies or young kids should get vaccinated to help protect those children.
