If you talk to five people, you will get 5 different opinions about the flu and getting a flu shot.
There is very good information on the Alberta Government's website and for ESL students there is a special issue of English Express that explains a lot. It has a little out-of-date information but is still very good.
I plan to get a flu shot this year and I usually do. I am not even a bit nervous about it. I would recommend that anyone get a flu shot. Maybe if more people got the vaccine, there wouldn't be so many people coughing and shivering and passing the virus on to others.
There are lots of rumors about flu shots. For example:
My child can die if he gets a flu shot. NOT TRUE There have been a few deaths from millions of flu shots but your child has a much greater chance of dying from the flu or another disease than from the injection or vaccine.
The flu shot can give me the flu. NOT TRUE If you get the flu shortly after a flu shot it means that you had the virus already or maybe you have a cold or maybe it's a different kind of flu than the vaccine protects you from.
The flu is the same as a cold. NOT TRUE They are both caused by a virus but if you have a dry cough, an achy body and a fever, you probably have the flu. If you have a stuffed nose you probably have a cold.
So make sure you get plenty of rest, wash your hands often and get a flu shot.
