It is important to stay informed and clear up common misconceptions around vaccines, so you can make the most of your immunisation conversation with your doctor!

Myth 1: Vaccines are for children

Fact: Vaccinations are recommended across various stages of life. As protective effects of childhood vaccines wean off over time, it is vital to remain up to date on booster shots. Rapid globalisation and increased frequency of international travel have raised the likelihood of adults contracting vaccine-preventable diseases, including influenza, Hepatitis A and B and more. These can lead to higher disease burden in adults, exacerbate comorbidities and are associated with higher rates of mortality in adults.

There are vaccines you should take as an adult even if you didn't take them as a child, like the Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DPT) vaccine, which is a booster shot recommended once every ten years.

Myth 2: Not all adults need vaccines

Fact: Vaccinations are an important public health strategy across the population, including healthy adults, and many vaccines are universally recommended. These include vaccines for influenza, typhoid and Hepatitis A and B, which have resulted in seasonal epidemics across India.

Myth 3: Vaccines cause unnecessary hassle and make me sick.

Fact: Vaccinations are beneficial and can help avoid disease burden and negative complications in the long run, thus leading to better health outcomes so you can live a fuller, hassle-free life. Moreover, vaccines don't cause illness but short-lived side effects, including low-grade fever, aches or soreness, which are nothing to worry about -- in fact, it is the result of the body building an immune response to the vaccine.

Myth 4: It's better to get the flu naturally instead of taking a vaccine, which will weaken my immune system.

Fact: Being exposed to the flu naturally means exposing yourself to a potentially serious disease with moderate to severe symptoms including fever, joint pain and cough among others. This can prompt worrying complications or even progress to pneumonia, respiratory failure or even morbidity, particularly for those at high-risk.Vaccination is a far safer option to protect yourself against preventable diseases and in fact, strengthens your immune system.

Myth 5: I took the influenza vaccine last year, so I don't need it again

Fact: Influenza viruses are constantly changing and so, WHO identifies and provides latest strain recommendations annually. Getting vaccinated every year is thus important to ensure optimal, sustained protection against rapidly adapting influenza viruses. This is vital especially considering in India where we have had pandemic outbreaks of influenza in various states, including Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat, in 2012, 2015 and 2017. Get your flu shot annually to keep yourself protected.

What next: 

Well, there’s no better way to fight this deadly virus than it is by getting vaccinated. So, make sure you leave behind these COVID-19 vaccine myths and to visit the CoWIN website to check the nearest vaccine centre and slot availability now!