Does the flu shot prevent really bad colds?

Answer 1

No, the virus that causes a common cold is different than the virus that causes influenza. However, for some people, the symptoms for some types of flu are very similar to the symptoms of a really bad cold, but the vaccine just doesn't work to provide immunity for colds. There currenlty is no vaccine for colds.

Answer 2

Yes. In the current practices for development of flu shots, they are proven through multiple clinical trials conducted by the manufacturers, public health organizations (like the CDC) and monitored and sometimes also studied by scientists with the Food and Drug Administration before they declare them approved for use and safe and effective. So, yes, flu shots do work to provide immunization to the specific strains of flu virus that they are targeted to prevent.

There are variations in how effective they are in different demographic groups. They may be less effective in children with immature immune systems, and that is why they are given a series of two vaccinations. Adults who are healthy with healthy immune systems usually have a good immune response to the vaccines and typically an effectiveness rate of the vaccines for them is between 70 and 90%. But there are many people who have an excellent immunity established.

Another variant is the strain of flu selected to use for the type of the flu virus the vaccine is developed to prevent. Minor mutations are ongoing with viruses and scientists must select the strain that best matches the virus that is spreading in the most outbreak areas. If the match is good and the virus does no further mutation, then a higher rate of effectiveness can be achieved. Even if there is some mutation, the vaccines can often be effective with a cross-protection to mutations that remain similar enough to the original strain.

For information on how flu shots and vaccinations work, see the related questions below.

Answer 3

Yes, considerably. See below from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

Past studies have shown in years when the vaccine viruses and circulating viruses are well-matched, the vaccine can reduce the chances of getting the flu by 70% to 90% in healthy adults. The vaccine may be somewhat less effective in elderly persons and very young children, but vaccination can still prevent serious complications from the flu.

Immunity produced by taking the flu vaccine can reduce your chances of getting it by up to 90%. This also reduces your chances of getting the flu and spreading it to your family and others, so it can be one of the most effective tools for reducing the number of cases of flu and controlling epidemics and pandemics.

Answer 4

Yes, it will cause your body to create immunity to the specific kind of flu that the vaccine is made to prevent. It is possible for you to get a different type of flu, though, if the shot did not include vaccine to prevent the one you caught. See related questions below for more details about vaccinations.

Answer 5

No, in the US the flu vaccines are specific to the three types of flu that are expected to be circulating in that year's flu season and will prevent only infections of those specific three flu viruses (or other flu viruses that are very similar).

Answer 6

No, the flu shot will only be effective to provide immunity to the specific flu viruses in the vaccine.

Answer 7

No they cover flu (influenza).