Last night on our local news, I heard about another child that died from this year’s deadly flu epidemic and this child is not the only recent death.

Heather Holland was a 38-year-old second grade teacher in Fort Worth. She started feeling ill on January 29 and died on February 4 of influenza B. She left behind a husband and two children.

Aaron Masterson, a 12-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis who lived in Huntsville, Georgia, died Feb. 4 from influenza B.

Savanna Jessie was a happy 7-year-old girl with two missing front teeth. The Columbus, Indiana girl died suddenly on February 1. The type of flu was not revealed, but with the flu, she had contracted strep throat and scarlet fever which was caused by the strep throat.

Kira Molina was a vibrant and pretty 15-year-old girl in the Newnan, Georgia area. She died on January 30 after only two days of being diagnosed with Influenza A.

Other flu deaths include 5-year-old Eli Snook, 7-year-old Kevin Baynes Jr. and Dulce Estrella, who was still in her mother’s womb.

The list of recent influenza deaths is sad list that encompasses all ages, sexes, ethnic and social backgrounds. Many of those that have died were not vaccinated, for various reasons not given.

I’ve heard some fears about getting a flu vaccine and found there are 6 common myths associated with the vaccine that are not true.

Myth 1 – It’s possible to get a mild or even severe case of flu from the vaccine.

“The flu vaccine injection contains no live virus, only viral proteins, said Dr. Dennis Cunningham, an infectious disease specialist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.”

“‘It’s impossible to get the flu, and it’s impossible to spread the flu,’ from the injection, Cunningham said.”

Myth 2 – The flu vaccine is not safe for babies or pregnant women.

“The flu vaccine is safe for pregnant women, and for babies older than 6 months, Cunningham said.”

“In fact, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (the leading group of women’s health care physicians) recommends that pregnant women be vaccinated against the flu. ‘No study to date has shown an adverse consequence of inactivated influenza vaccine in pregnant women or their offspring,’ according to the ACOG.”

“The CDC notes that pregnant women should receive the vaccine by injection, not nasal spray.”

Myth 3 – If you get the flu, antibodies in your system can fight the flu.

“Antibiotics only kill bacteria, but the flu is caused by a virus.”

‘There are anti-viral drugs that can fight flu infections, Cunningham said, but they’ve only been shown to work when they’re given with 48 hours of the start of symptoms. ‘Most people, by the time they go to the doctor, they’re past the 48-hour mark,’ he said.”

Myth 4 – If you got a flu vaccine last year, you don’t need one this year as the strains are similar.

“There are two reasons why it’s recommended that people get the flu vaccine every year, Cunningham said.”

“One reason yearly vaccination is needed is that the strains of the flu virus that are circulating change from year to year. ‘It’s like the common cold — there’s more than one type of virus that cause the flu,’ in fact, there are hundreds of flu viruses, he said…”

“The second reason a flu shot is needed every year is that the immunity that develops after getting the shot wanes by the following year. ‘If you get your shot in August, you’ll be safe though March, but those antibodies won’t be for the next flu season,’ Cunningham said.”

Myth 5 – Getting the flu is not really that serious, so there’s no real need to get vaccinated.

“‘The flu is certainly a very serious disease,’ Cunningham said.”

“Every year, there are typically between 15 million and 60 million cases of the flu reported, Cunningham said. More than 200,000 people with the flu are admitted to hospitals yearly.”

“Between 3,000 and 50,000 people in the U.S. die of the flu yearly.”

Myth 6 – The flu vaccine contains thimerosal, which contains mercury and can be harmful.

“Thimerosal — a preservative that contains mercury — has never been shown to be harmful, Cunningham said. The type of mercury linked with nervous system damage is methyl mercury, he said. Concerns over methyl mercury levels have led to recommendations that pregnant women avoid eating large amounts of certain types of fish, such as swordfish.”

“In contrast, thimerosal is an ethyl mercury compound…”

“The injectable form flu vaccine is available to health care providers in two ways — they can get large bottles of it, which contain many doses, or they can small bottles, which contain an individual dose of the vaccine.”

“There is a tiny amount of thimerosal in the multidose bottles. The preservative ensures that no bacteria will grow in the vaccine, Cunningham said. The individual-dose bottles contain no thiomersal. People concerned about the compounds effects can ask their provider for an individual dose.”

“The nasal spray form of the flu vaccine contains no thimerosal, he noted.”

If any of these reasons have been preventing you from getting a flu vaccine, then you need to realize they are just myths. It’s better to get the vaccine and reduce your chances on becoming another victim and being on the list above.

I’m not one to run to doctors or get a lot of vaccines, but with having a suppressed immune system and reporting on how dangerous the flu epidemic is this year, I got my first flu vaccine in over 20-years and highly recommend that you do to.