Myths About Flu Shots - Myth 5

Myth #5: Flu isn’t dangerous

If you catch the flu, you are at risk for potentially serious complications, including:

• Pneumonia
• Sinus or ear infections
• Inflammation of the brain or heart tissue
• Organ failure
• Sepsis

These complications often require hospitalization, and, every year, between 12,000 and 56,000 deaths are caused by the flu virus.

Young children, the elderly, pregnant women, those with respiratory illnesses, and the chronically ill are especially at risk for these complications. These groups of people should always get the flu vaccine.

Even if you are not in one of these high-risk groups, you could spread the flu to them if you do not get vaccinated. The more people who are vaccinated, the lower the risk that vulnerable children and adults will catch the virus.

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