Can the flu vaccine cause the flu?

As pregnant women, people over 60 and other vulnerable groups, you are entitled to a free flu vaccine. However, some misconceptions about vaccines persist, leaving some people fearful of getting vaccinated. For example, it’s very common for the flu vaccine to cause the flu. But will it be the same?

Does the flu vaccine really cause the flu?

The idea that the flu vaccine causes the flu is wrong. adianta is internal medicine specialist Ana Isabel Pedroso, who participated in the title “Viral” of the SIC’s “Casa Feliz” program (in partnership with the TV station Viral Check).

Doctors explained that the flu vaccine contains “inactivated virus” and that some people may experience symptoms similar to the disease after receiving the vaccine, but this does not mean that they are infected.

“In terms of post-vaccination symptoms, some people experience flu symptoms. “You don’t have symptoms for two or three days, you’re not infected, but you do feel some symptoms, mainly muscle aches,” he insisted explain.

The same myth has been debunked by explanatory texts posted on both websites. Centers for Drug Control and Prevention (CDC, in English).

The CDC clarifies that “vaccines contain inactivated viruses, which means they are not contagious, or are particles in our immune system that look like influenza viruses.”

Ana Isabel Pedroso proposed that there are different types of vaccines, rather than the basic idea of ​​a vaccine, which means “memory cells that fight against a specific virus or bacteria, and later when we are actually exposed to the virus or bacteria,” “we’re not going to have an immune system (to fight) any time soon.”

What free flu vaccine will we get?

Next is the available information No website does SNS 24“Seasonal vaccinations against flu and Covid-19 are free for the most vulnerable.”

This does not mean respecting the flu vaccine, but only respecting those who are considered vulnerable, such as “pregnant,” “people living 60 years or older,” and “people living longer than 6 months, as well as residents or hospitalized people”. “Residing in a medical facility for an extended period of time due to certain chronic diseases and conditions.”

We are also “health professionals in the National Health Service (including students in clinical settings), firefighters with direct contact with people, professionals in prison facilities and professionals with long-term contact with residents or trainees in institutions providing health care People.” Flu shots are completely free.

Vaccination against Covid-19, for example, is free of charge for pregnant women, “people aged 60 years or above”, “people aged 5 years or above” ea “Estruturas Residenciais para Pessoas Idosas professional residents, similar institutions, National Continuing Integrated Care Network and Prison Facilities.”

We also refer to free vaccines as “health care services (public and private) professionals and other health care providers, clinical students, and firefighters involved in transporting teachers and dependent caregivers.”