Some parents think flu shots cause the flu – here's why that's wrong

It seems to some parents still believe the popular myth that a flu shot causes the flu.

Florida's Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital conducted a national survey of 700 parents and found them more than half their lives, the Orlando Sentinel reported on Tuesday.

But the flu shot does not contain live viruses, and it can not make you sick, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains.

It is possible to get sick after getting vaccinated, but not Because of the shot.

"After receiving the shot, it takes time to get your flu shot, so you can get your flu shot as early as possible, "pediatrician Dr. Jean Moorjani, a pediatrician at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, said in a statement about the survey.

It's also possible that you'll encounter a different kind of virus, like ones that cause the common cold, right after getting the flu shot.

"We're giving [the shot] "Dr. Malcolm Thaler, of New York City's One Medical, previously reported INSIDER." shot and it's just incorrect. "

It's worth noting that some people have mild reactions to the flu shot, including low-grade fever, headache, and muscle aches, the CDC says. But those reactions do not mean the flu shot made you sick.

"It can make your arm a little bit sore, but beyond that [you might] just feel a little off right now, "Thaler said." That's just your immune system getting up and going. "

Besides, these common reactions to flu shots are "considerably less severe" than the symptoms of actual flu, the CDC website adds. Remember that flu can cause serious complications and can even be deadly. An estimated 80,000 Americans died from the last winter, and 180 of those deaths occurred in children.

The CDC recommends that everyone age six months and older get the flu shot, preferably by the end of October. (People who are allergic to the components of the vaccine should not get vaccinated.)

Not sure where to get a flu shot? Use this tool from the CDC to find a location in your zip code.

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