Myths And Facts About The Common Cold And Flu To Know Right Now

Myth: Flu Vaccine Causes The Flu

There are many misconceptions regarding the flu shot, with the biggest one being that the flu shot infects patients with the flu. The flu vaccine is currently manufactured in two ways: there are flu vaccines with inactive viruses that are no longer infectious, and there are those with no viruses, which are common for the influenza vaccine.

Some side effects of the influenza vaccine may include soreness, redness, tenderness, and swelling where the shot was administered, as well as a low-grade fever, headache, and muscle aches. However, throughout randomized studies, patients were administered either an inactivated flu shot or a placebo, with no difference in side effects other than the tenderness of the injection site.

Fact: Microbes Can Live Up To Two Days

We know for a fact the cold-causing microbes, known as rhinoviruses, can survive outside of the body for up to two days. The rhinovirus accounts for thirty to fifty percent of colds and can usually live for three hours on skin, surfaces, and objects, but they can also survive anywhere up to forty-eight hours. Objects these microbes might live on include buttons, doorknobs, keyboards, and kitchen counters. Essentially, this means any object touched regularly. The rhinovirus can be contracted by individuals touching the objects or shaking the hand of someone who is infected and then touching their face.