Influenza Facts

• Flu shots do not cause the flu! They contain inactivated viruses or viral components that cannot cause illness.
• Influenza isn’t “just a bad cold”. It’s an acute respiratory infection that can be serious.
• Each year, over 200,000 New Zealanders contract influenza and 400 die.
• Even if you’ve had the flu before, you should still get vaccinated annually because immunity wanes over time, and new strains emerge.
• Flu vaccines protect against the most common and potentially severe strains of influenza expected to circulate during the flu season.
• Getting vaccinated against the flu significantly reduces the risk of contracting the virus and spreading it to others.
• It takes about two weeks for the flu vaccine to provide full protection, so getting vaccinated early in the flu season is advisable!
• Flu vaccines are safe for the vast majority of people. Serious side effects are rare, with the most common being mild soreness or redness at the injection site.