As news about the spread of coronavirus worsens, you may feel the temptation to panic a little about the spread of the flu in general.

While viral outbreaks can be scary, and so much focus is on the coronavirus, you’re still susceptible to the flu as we know it here in America. And you might be more susceptible than you realize.

That could be because you have misinformation about the flu and how it works. So, take a look at some of these common myths and misunderstandings about the flu and how it really works:

1. Does Your Flu Protection Wear Out If You Get Vaccinated Too Early in the Year?

Some doctors get their flu vaccines as early as August. If that’s the case, does that mean that if you get the flu vaccination early in the season, that you have a higher vulnerability towards the end it because it wears out?

No. That’s a myth.

Flu vaccinations last a year. So you have nothing to worry if you or your employees get vaccinated early in the season.

2. Can You Catch the Flu from a Flu Shot?

You get part of the flu virus when you get a flu shot. So, it makes sense to think that you have a chance of catching the flu when you get a flu shot.

But is that really the case?

No. You cannot get the flu from a flu shot. The reason many people believe you can get the flu from the flu shot is that most people tend to get the flu vaccine during flu season, usually in October or November.

They then catch the flu from someone carrying the virus who may not necessarily be infected.

So, it only appears you catch the flu from the flu shot. But the reality is that you catch it from someone or somewhere else.

3. Does Work Stress Increase Your Chances of Getting the Flu?

It sure seems like stress increases your susceptibility to just about everything negative about your health, doesn’t it?

You’ve seen a couple myths dispelled already. So what’s the reality about stress’s relationship with causing the flu?

It’s actually undetermined at this point. So, it might or might not be.

At the same time, stress clearly isn’t helpful for your health in general. So, you’re wise to limit it at your workplace as much as possible.

Were you surprised by any of those?

And how can you improve health at your workplace with your new understanding of the flu and how it really works?