Here for sharing far and wide is a collection of the most common myths and misconceptions surrounding flu vaccines, debunked point-by-point with lucid, thoroughly referenced explanations.
So far this year, Ebola has upstaged the flu and stolen most of the headlines about a killer virus. But flu season has not really quite begun just yet, so it remains to be seen which one will dominate the media throughout the winter. What's ironic is that the flu kills more people in one year – in the U.S. alone – than Ebola has killed ever, in history, worldwide.
But I'm already getting ahead of myself – I've bumped Ebola to #1 on this year's list – so let's get to it with two quick, important notes: First, for those who prefer to do their own research, I've provided all my sources in hyperlinks. More than half of these go directly to peer-reviewed medical research, and a fair number go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization.
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Second, but very important: I am a science journalist but not a medical doctor or other health care professional. I've compiled research here to debunk common myths about the flu vaccine. You should always consult a reliable, trusted medical professional with questions that pertain specifically to you. For the CDC recommendations on the 2014-2015 flu vaccines (including information on which vaccines pregnant women, the elderly and children under 2 should *not* get), please consult the CDC flu vaccine recommendations directly. There are indeed people who should *not* get the flu vaccine.