Last Updated on July 7, 2020 by Team THIP
Quick Take
A viral post doing rounds on social media claims that if people getting vaccinated by flu shots, it will cause them to be contagious. It further claims that such people should stay at home for a minimum of 2 weeks as they have an active live walking virus. Upon investigation, we found the viral post to be false.
The Claim
The viral post on social media reads: “Folks who get flu shots please have some courtesy and stay home for minimal of 2 weeks while you are an active live walking virus. Also don’t hug others and give kisses and please immediately tell others you were vaccinated so they don’t come close you.”
Fact Check
We started our investigation and found some information of flu shots on the official website of the Government of Canada. On the official website it was stated that the flu shot is your best defence against the flu. It was further mentioned that flu shot is recommended for everyone 6 months and older and that the flu shot is safe and one can’t get flu from flu shot.
We also found an article on Harvard Medical School’s official website. The article suggested that the flu shot is made of inactivated virus that cannot transmit infection. It takes a week or two to get protection from the vaccine.
As per Dr. Sanchayan Roy, a General Physician, this claim is false. Vaccines help develop immunity and contain a version of the virus or bacteria that has been weakened so that it does not cause serious disease in people with healthy immune systems. Infact, it gives immunity to the body by producing antibodies. The claim which states that people who get vaccinated will be contagious for some weeks is fake.”
In order to understand the working of vaccines, we found a research on the official website of U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The research stated that vaccines help develop immunity by imitating an infection. This type of infection, however, almost never causes illness, but it does cause the immune system to produce T-lymphocytes and antibodies. Sometimes, after getting a vaccine, the imitation infection can cause minor symptoms, such as fever. Such minor symptoms are normal and should be expected as the body builds immunity. Vaccines help develop immunity by imitating an infection.
It was nowhere mentioned that the person who has got the vaccine can transfer the virus to someone he hugs or kisses or comes in contact.
Conclusion
Flu shots do not make people contagious. The viral post is misleading. Vaccines contain a version of the virus or bacteria that has been weakened so that it does not cause serious disease in people with healthy immune systems. Vaccines give immunity to the body by producing antibodies.
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