Between myth and reality... Could the influenza vaccine be a cause of infection?

Weather of Arabia - Myths and legends abound about colds, influenza, and winter diseases, as it is assumed that exposure to cold weather leads to colds, but scientific tests have proven that this claim is incorrect since the 1950s. Studies conducted on individuals living in harsh conditions and extreme cold did not show any effects on They are infected with the cold virus, and these myths include:

Between myth and reality... winter diseases

Rest during a cold and not take medication

Some individuals consider that the treatment for a cold lies in rest, without the need for medication, as they believe that taking medication makes the disease worse and extends the duration of the infection. Although sneezing and a runny nose are considered a cleansing mechanism for the body, they do not eliminate the virus, but rather it multiplies in the lining cells. the nose.

It is also not useful to use antibiotics to treat colds, as most of them are viral. Drinking warm liquids and chicken soup shows its effects in avoiding dehydration or when inhaling vapors to reduce the thickness of nasal secretions, but they do not eliminate the virus.

The influenza vaccine may cause infection

On the other hand, the US National Foundation for Disease Control points out the importance of the vaccine in preventing seasonal influenza. Despite the spread of rumors that the vaccine could be a cause of infection, the Harvard Medical School website confirms the inability of the influenza vaccine to transmit infection, and highlights that individuals who get sick after being vaccinated would have actually gotten sick, but the vaccine takes two weeks to achieve its full effectiveness in protecting the individual. From infection.

Healthy individuals do not need to receive the vaccine

Another group of myths related to influenza is widespread, as some believe that healthy individuals do not need to receive the vaccine, or that they do not need to be re-vaccinated every year. However, it is recommended that all individuals over six months of age, including pregnant women, be vaccinated. Every year, this is because the virus changes annually.

While exposure to the influenza virus is considered the only way to contract it, flu season coincides with cold weather and for this reason, people associate the flu with a cold and rainy environment, which contributes to the spread of this myth.

Read also:

Do you want to avoid winter illnesses... These simple changes in your day will enable you to do so

How does cold weather affect various organs of the body?

Sources:

aljazeera