Everyone has heard of the flu, as it is a very common viral infection. The flu does not seem very harmful since it is very common but in some cases it can be very severe and cause hospitalization or even death. That is why flu vaccines were made, to prevent people from getting the flu. It seems very obvious, does it not? But, there is way more to it than that.

First of all, have you ever wondered how flu vaccines are made? There are three main ways to produce flu vaccines approved by the FDA according to cdc.gov. The most common way is the egg-based flu vaccine, in where the virus is injected into fertilized hen eggs. After that, the extracted virus antigen is purified and tested. Another way is the cell-based few vaccine which begins like the egg-based vaccine but instead is mixed with mammalian cells and left to replicate before being purified. The third production uses recombinant technology, in which the enzymes are cut and then pasted together to make a DNA sequence that can be replicated to fight viruses.

After these processes are completed, the vaccines are packed and shipped to different clinics and pharmacies across the world. Many doctors highly recommend vaccines every year because the flu viruses slightly differ from the past years. For example, this year’s vaccine has more than the H1N1 virus strain; it also has two other strains that were identified as possible contaminants. Also, the flu shots cannot give you influenza because they are made of a very weakened form of influenza. There is even a solution for people who are scared of shots which is nasal spray vaccine. To finish off, the vaccine can prevent you from missing important office and school days.

But, there is always a flip side to everything. For example, the flu shot takes about two weeks to kick in. It also does not always promise that the flu will go away, sometimes it does not even work. Do not forget that a small amount of mercury is added to the flu shot as a preservative, and since mercury is linked to brain and nerve disorders, it can make one uneasy. Lastly, some people can develop side effects like soreness, a fever, achiness, or swelling, but these usually clear up in a few days.

Flu vaccines have their pros and cons, but what thing does not? Many people will argue that the flu vaccines are not safe because of the reasons listed above. On the other hand, some people highly recommend it. But, in the end it is one’s decision and there is nothing anybody can do about it. The facts have been given to you, but what you do with them is your choice.