Articles

Every year, the flu infects approximately 10 to 30% of Europeans and causes hundreds of thousands of hospitalisations ⁽¹⁾. Even healthy people can catch the virus ⁽²⁾. And while older people, younger children and those with chronic conditions suffer the most, everyone is at risk of developing serious complications ⁽¹⁾.

The flu vaccine is available to help protect people from the flu ⁽²⁾. Read on to learn about the benefits of getting a flu shot.

1. Prevents the flu: Flu vaccines are safe, effective and the most effective way of preventing the flu ⁽³⁾⁽⁴⁾. Among healthy adults, the flu vaccine provides protection, even when circulating viruses do not exactly match the vaccine viruses ⁽⁴⁾. However, among the elderly, flu vaccination may be less effective in preventing illness but reduces the severity of disease and incidence of complications and deaths ⁽⁴⁾.
2. Reduces flu symptoms: Several flu viruses are circulating all the time, which is why people may still get the flu despite being vaccinated ⁽²⁾ since the vaccine is specific to particular strains of the flu ⁽²⁾. But if you do get sick with the flu, your symptoms may be milder if you’ve had your flu vaccine ⁽⁵⁾.
3. Lowers risk of complications: Among the elderly, flu vaccination may be less effective in preventing illness but reduces the severity of disease and incidence of complications and severe illness ⁽⁴⁾.
4. Promotes healthy ageing: In older adults, being vaccinated against the flu could prevent functional decline and reduce the incidence of frailty ⁽⁶⁾.
5. Protects the community: Vaccination also provides indirect protection ⁽⁷⁾ for people with vulnerable immune systems. Being vaccinated not only improves direct protection from the flu ⁽²⁾ but may also reduce overall flu transmission ⁽⁷⁾ and help to stop the virus from affecting people with vulnerable immune systems ⁽²⁾.
6. Reduces absence: Flu epidemics are also an important cause of many bouts of short-lived but debilitating illness leading to school and work absence. Hence many people choose to get vaccinated, and some also have their children vaccinated too ⁽⁷⁾.

Complications from the flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections and sinus infections to worsening of chronic medical conditions and even septicemia ⁽⁸⁾. Adverse events following flu vaccination are far less common, generally localised and last no more than a couple of days ⁽⁸⁾. The benefits of vaccination substantially outweigh any risks ⁽⁸⁾. Have you had your flu shot?

References
(1) https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/seasonal-influenza/facts
(2) https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/influenza-are-we-ready/5-myths-about-the-flu-vaccine
(3) https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/communicable-diseases/influenza/vaccination
(4) https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(seasonal)
(5) https://www.healthline.com/health/flu-shot-pros-and-cons#benefits
(6) https://www.vaccinestoday.eu/stories/bonus-benefits-flu-vaccine-does-more-than-protect-against-influenza/
(7) https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/seasonal-influenza/prevention-and-control/vaccines/vaccination-strategies
(8) https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/seasonal-influenza/prevention-and-control/vaccine-safety