7 Myths About The Flu, Busted

7 Myths About The Flu, Busted

As the flu remains widespread in Rhode Island and continues to send people to doctors’ offices and hospitals throughout the state, unvaccinated Rhode Islanders are urged to get flu shots to protect not only themselves, but also those around them — particularly elderly people and babies under the age of six months.  
 
“Flu vaccine helps you and the people in your life stay healthy,” said Michael Fine, M.D., director of HEALTH. “Roughly 40 percent of the state has been vaccinated so far this flu season. For the hundreds of thousands of Rhode Islanders who still haven’t gotten flu shots, it’s not too late to protect yourself, your family members, neighbors, co-workers, and friends.”
 
This flu season is particularly severe and is hitting the state earlier than usual, said Dr. Fine, adding that the state is averaging about 10 flu hospitalizations each day and seeing nearly 200 patients with flu-like symptoms daily in emergency departments. “We don’t know how long the flu is going to continue to circulate in Rhode Island at this level,” he said. “But what we do know is that flu vaccine is the best defense against influenza.”
 
Many people have questions about the flu shot, or hear conflicting information about the need to protect themselves and their families from influenza. Here are some of the most common misconceptions about influenza and the flu shot: