1. Myth: You can catch the flu from the flu vaccine.

Fact: This is probably the biggest myth surrounding the flu shot. The truth is you cannot get the flu from the vaccine. The injectable vaccine is made of inactivated viruses, so it is impossible to get the flu from the vaccine. The most common side effect is mild soreness or redness at the injection site, headache, low-grade fever, or a runny nose for a day after receiving the vaccine.

2. Myth: You must get the flu vaccine during the fall season for it to be effective.

Fact: The U.S. flu season usually peaks between late December and early March, according to the CDC.  So getting the flu shot later in the season can still provide benefits. It only takes about two weeks after vaccination for your body to produce the antibodies to ward off the flu, offering you protection from a late-season peak.

3. Myth: You can only catch the flu in cold weather regions.

Fact: The flu virus exists in almost every climate and temperature. According to the CDC, the flu peaks first in the western sections of the United States, an area known for its more warm temperatures, and moves eastward to the colder climates.  

4. Myth: Getting an influenza shot every year weakens your immune system.

Fact: The vaccine prepares and boosts your immune system to help you fight the virus if you contract it. People who get the influenza shot each year are better protected against influenza than those who do not get vaccinated.

5. Myth: The flu can be avoided through simple, general health practices.

Fact: Frequent hand washing, eating right and getting plenty of rest do help to protect your immune system, but nothing provides better coverage from the flu virus than a flu shot.

6. Myth: The flu is spread through direct contact with an infected person.
 
Fact: It can be. Contact can occur by direct bodily contact (such as kissing) or touching something with virus on it (such as shaking hands with someone who has the flu) and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes. But the flu is mostly spread through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Respiratory droplets are generated by a person coughing or sneezing and can be propelled right into your eyes, nose or mouth over short distances. Adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before getting symptoms and up to one week after getting sick. Children can be infectious even longer, sometimes up to several weeks. That means that you can give someone the flu before you know you're sick and while you are sick.

7. Myth: People shouldn’t be immunized against influenza if they are sick.

Fact: Minor illnesses with or without fever should not prevent vaccination, especially in children with mild colds or respiratory allergies. In addition, people with chronic illnesses are at a higher risk for complications of the influenza virus. These individuals should be immunized annually and early in the flu season.

8. Myth: The side effects of the flu shot are worse than the flu.

Fact: Most people experience little or no side effects, and the influenza vaccine usually produces no increase in systemic side effects or disability in the elderly. Symptoms attributed by patients to a recent influenza vaccine are likely secondary to coincidental illness coupled with heightened somatic awareness following vaccination. If an individual does experience flu-like side effects, the duration is short (usually no longer than 24-48 hours) whereas influenza can hang on for 10 days or more and may leave a person debilitated for a longer time. Moreover, a true case of influenza always leaves open the possibility of chronic complications (such as pneumonia) and even death.

9. Myth: You shouldn't get a flu shot if you are pregnant.

Fact: The physical effects of pregnancy put women at risk for serious complications of flu, and studies have found no harmful effects on the fetus associated with flu vaccine. The CDC says women who are at any stage of pregnancy during flu season should be immunized.

10. Myth: You won't be able to get a flu shot because there isn’t enough vaccine.
 
Fact: Many offices and clinics have begun to receive their supply of vaccine doses and may receive second shipments later in the season. The CDC expects to have the largest number of doses ever, up to 132 million flu vaccine doses during the 2007-2008 flu season.  That’s 12 million more than were produced last year.