Expert Debunks Flu Shot Myths
Worried About Getting Your Kids the Flu Shot? This Expert Just Debunked All the Myths
After a national survey found that some parents were sceptical about getting their children the flu shot, Dr. Jean Moorjani, a board-certified pediatrician at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital in Florida, wanted to go the extra mile to put moms and dads' anxieties at ease.
According to the survey results, some parents believe that their kids can actually come down with the flu just from getting the shot. And what's even more concerning, 30 percent of parents believe that vaccines are a conspiracy, and 28 percent of parents believe the flu vaccine can cause autism.
"The flu vaccine is the best protection against the flu."
Parents who aren't planning on getting their children the flu shot should definitely reconsider. Last year, 180 children died from the flu, 80 percent of which didn't receive the shot.
"The flu vaccine is the best protection against the flu," said Dr. Moorjani. "And of the children who died from the flu last year, about half of them were perfectly healthy children. Since we cannot predict who will develop a serious complication from the flu, we recommended that all children over the age of six months old receive the flu vaccine for the best protection."
Read through to see Dr. Moorjani's reasoning behind why every healthy person in your family should get the flu shot. And don't forget to make a doctor's appointment for your children ASAP.
1 Myth: children can contract the flu from the shot.
2 Myth: getting the flu shot won't make the symptoms less severe if my child gets sick.
3 Myth: getting the flu shot can cause autism.
