Transcription:

Alyne Ellis (Host):  Welcome to Hally Healthcast, the monthly wellness podcast from Hally Health, your source for health and wellness resources, information and tips. Every month, we’ll address a new topic important to your health, bringing in expert doctors, therapists and specialists who will offer advice and answer your most pressing questions. The end of summer means the beginning of flu season. So, this month, we’re talking about influenza. I’m Alyne Ellis and here with us today is Rick Hourigan. Dr. Hourigan is a specialist in Family Medicine with Confluence Health in Washington. Welcome Dr. Hourigan. It’s so nice to have you here with us today.

Rick Hourigan, MD, MHA, FAAFP (Guest):  Thank you.

Host:  So, let’s jump right in. We’re exploring five common myths about the flu and flu season. And myth one is perhaps the most common myth. I’ve heard some people say the flu vaccine can give me the flu. Is that true?

Dr. Hourigan:  No, that is a common myth and it is not true. The flu vaccine is actually inactivated. So, when we say inactivated, it means that it can no longer transmit the virus and the symptoms to go with the virus. Now we do see some people develop a sore arm. About 64% of the people will develop a slight sore arm and for the most part, that lasts less than a day. There are some people who can rarely get a slight stuffy nose because they’ve had a little sensitivity to the vaccine. But that itself is also rare. So, in a nutshell, no, you cannot get the flu from the vaccine itself.

Host:  I’ve heard that people who are allergic to eggs cannot take the flu vaccine. Is that true?

Dr. Hourigan:  You know, then that’s a really good topic. I wanted to make sure we touched on that too. That is no longer thought to be true. We have numerous studies that have done and actually the risk is inherently incredibly low for anybody. Even the American Academy of Allergy and Asthma says this is not an issue. The American Academy of Pediatrics and in fact, every US health academy or professional organization has said even with someone having an egg allergy, is extremely rare and not to be concerned and should go ahead and get the flu vaccine.

Host:  Let’s move on to myth number two. I’ve also heard that people say that the flu isn’t too serious an illness and so why in the world would we worry about it. So, what’s the truth about that?

Dr. Hourigan:  Well the truth is, just like in our current pandemic, it varies to each individual. The flu is a very serious illness. We see people hospitalized. And people die from it every year. And it’s not just a few people. There’s a high mortality rate. We see infants die. We see young adults die. And we see the elderly pass away and be hospitalized with lots of other complications. I even had a 36 year old, two seasons ago, pass away from influenza in my practice. So, this is serious. And the thing to know about the flu is that you can pass it on to others even without having serious symptoms. So, one aspect of vaccine is that we act as a society and take care of each other and or our families. If you want to visit your grandparents or you are going to go visit a newborn or friends who may have newborns; we can pass it on even if we have minor symptoms. The symptoms themselves vary depending on type A and type B. Type B is a lessor influenza. But people still miss work. And can be very ill. Type A, young adults will tell me I will always get a flu vaccine. I just experienced the flu and I felt like I got ran over by a Mack truck. I had fevers for five days. It can be serious. So, it is well worth getting the vaccine not only for yourself, but for your loved ones.

Host:  Myth number three, I’m young and I’m healthy, doesn’t that mean that I just don’t need a flu shot?

Dr. Hourigan:  You know, you are taking your chances with the flu shot and not getting it. But you’re also taking chances for others. Yes, when you are young and healthy, there’s a good chance you won’t pass away from the flu, but you have a good chance of getting it and passing it to others. But all ages can become seriously ill with the flu and can pass away from the flu. Be good to yourself. Be good to your neighbors. That’s what this influenza vaccine is about. So, those that are the most at risk with the influenza are those who are young, whose immune systems either are not fully formed or they can be overwhelmed easily by a virus and the same with the elderly, those whose immune systems are starting to wane or they have other health conditions whether it’s diabetes, asthma, emphysema, heart conditions. Once we get the flu, our whole system is taxed and those other diseases can manifest themselves like heart attacks, much easier because our system is being so strained. So, yes, you are more apt to have complications if you have severe illness or very young, but we still recommend everybody get the flu vaccine.

Host:  Well let’s move on to myth number four. What about pregnancy, pregnant women? I’ve heard that some people say they shouldn’t get the vaccination.

Dr. Hourigan:  So, pregnant women are also very much at risk. As you can understand, as their bellies swell, as they get further along in pregnancy, their lung volumes are compromised. They can’t breathe as well. Then they get the flu. The flu is also a cause of premature labor. Think of all that coughing. Think of just being sick with fevers. And then also think about being sick when you deliver and now potentially pass that off to a newborn. So, pregnant women can and should get the flu vaccine. What they should not get is the nasal vaccine. They should get an injection type vaccine for influenza.

Host:  So, finally, myth number five. What we’ve experienced this year all around the United States and around the world, perhaps this myth is the most timely. With so many people comparing COVID-19 to the  flu. Are these two essentially the same thing? How are they similar and what are the differences?

Dr. Hourigan:  You know, this is an incredibly important topic this year because we have two very similar viruses out there causing some similar symptoms. First off, they are totally different classes of viruses. They act differently. However, it appears as we’re learning more about COVID-19, they are likely transmitted in similar ways. Short of that, they are wholly different viruses. It does appear that COVID-19 causes a range of symptoms we’re still trying to understand. Influenza is mostly just that, a viral respiratory illness. Some people will get some gastrointestinal or stomach symptoms. But they are different but because of their similarity and as we enter the fall and winter flu season; this year’s especially important to get that vaccine because the similarities of these two viruses; they will mask one versus the other and in fact, early studies of COVID-19, last January, done out of Stanford University in California showed that 20% of the individuals were harboring both viruses at the same time. That only increases our own personal risk from injury and death from the viruses. Thus, while similar in their manifestation and diseases; they are totally different and getting the vaccine to at least try and prevent you from getting one of them this year is really important.

Host:  Such great expertise. Thank you so much Dr. Hourigan. And thanks for all you do at Confluence Health. That concludes today’s Hally Healthcast. Tune in next month when we talk about five things every woman should know about breast cancer. And remember, Hally Health is your source for a wide variety of health and wellness resources, information and tips. Visit us online at www.Hally.com. Let us help keep you and your family healthy and well. I’m Alyne Ellis. Thanks for listening. We hope you tune in next month.