Advice for patients regarding influenza vaccination

Many health workers will have encountered push-back from consumers after advocating flu vaccination to them. Needle-phobia, forgetfulness, and other factors are invoked as reasons not to have the vaccination. Survivor bias plays a role – “I didn’t get vaccinated for the last three years and I didn’t get the flu” – it is important to help people understand that this doesn’t protect them when next they are exposed to the influenza virus. Another common myth frequently described is the false belief that influenza vaccination causes people to get the flu – a resource to help educate people about this biological implausibility is available:  https://theconversation.com/mondays-medical-myth-the-flu-vaccine-will-give-you-influenza-5455