Every year (usually in October) my husband and I get our annual flu vaccine at our local CVS Minute Clinic. We go there for a number of reasons. One being convenience, and another being that I’m at CVS at least once a week for something so why not grab my body wash, toothpaste and get a flu shot. Ok so maybe I get myself a special little gift like trying new makeup or something after my flu shot. I’m a big baby.

My husband and I went this year to our local Minute Clinic and Valerie the doctor that gave us our flu shots was so nice and I didn’t even feel it. Yay!

The CVS Minute Clinic offers so many things in addition to your annual flu shot. I was reading all about them while I was there. Click HERE to learn what other services they offer.

Why should you get the flu shot? CVS provided me with the Top 5 Flu Vaccination Myths below.

 

Top 5 Flu Vaccination Myths

M #1: It is too late to get a seasonal flu shot.

Not at all! Flu season usually peaks in January or February, but it can occur as late as May so the sooner you get the shot the better. But ultimately, getting the flu shot at any time can help protect you & your loved ones. (MinuteClinic vaccinates patients 18 months and older, and are open 7 days/week with no appointment is necessary!)

M #2: The flu shot can give you the flu.

No! This is the biggest myth out there about the flu vaccine. The flu shot is made from an inactivated flu virus, so it cannot give you the flu. If you get flu-like symptoms after getting the flu shot, it’s likely because you got sick from another virus that wasn’t the flu, or you were exposed to the flu after you got vaccinated but before the vaccine took effect, which can be up to 2 weeks.

M #3. If you got the flu vaccine last year, you don’t have to get it again this year.

Wrong! It’s important to get the flu vaccine every year. Your body loses its immunity to the virus over time, and new strains of the flu appear each year. Getting vaccinated before each flu season rebuilds your immunity and protects against the strains that are predicted to be most common that season.

M #4. There are serious side effects caused by the flu vaccine.

Not at all! The only real side effect might be soreness or redness where the shot was administered.

M #5. Natural immunity or living a healthy lifestyle is better than getting immunity from the flu shot.

Not true! Eating right, exercising and getting plenty of rest can help prevent the flu, but the #1 way to avoid getting the flu is a flu vaccine. Even if you have avoided the flu in the past, it doesn’t make you less susceptible.

There is also tons of interesting and useful information at cdc.gov/flu.

*The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own. CVS MinuteClinic provided me with the flu shots which were super nice of them. Just another reason why I love CVS.