Why “it’s just flu, no big deal” is a dangerous myth
Despite what you may have heard, flu IS serious.
Despite what you may have heard, flu IS serious.Every flu season, we hear the same myth circulating: “Flu isn’t that serious.” You might hear people call it “just” the flu, saying they won’t get vaccinated because the flu isn’t a threat, or dismissing concerns about spreading the virus because they don’t think it could hurt them or their loved ones.
While it’s easy to brush off the flu as just a bad cold, the reality is that flu can be a serious and even deadly illness, particularly for vulnerable populations. Let’s break down why this common misconception needs to be put to rest.
Flu Can Be Life-Threatening
While most healthy people who contract flu will recover, influenza can lead to severe complications for certain groups. According to the CDC, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized with flu each year, and thousands die. Those at higher risk include:
- Older adults
- Pregnant people
- Young children
- People with chronic health conditions, like asthma or diabetes
Additionally, Black and African American and Hispanic people in the United States are impacted by serious flu illness and death at higher rates than other racial groups because of systemic health inequities.
Dismissing flu as “not that serious” ignores the very real risks it poses to many of us who are at increased risk.
Flu Spreads Rapidly
Influenza is highly contagious, spreading quickly in places where people gather, such as schools, workplaces, and public transportation. Each year, millions of people are infected, causing widespread absenteeism from work and school. This ripple effect impacts productivity, the economy, and healthcare systems, especially during peak flu season. So, while one person might have a mild case, they could easily pass it on to someone who may not be as lucky.
Healthy People Aren’t Invincible
Even if you’re young and healthy, there’s no guarantee you’ll escape flu’s grip unscathed. Healthy individuals can and do develop serious complications. In fact, some of the most severe flu cases can occur in otherwise healthy people who have not been vaccinated. What’s more, you can spread the virus before you even show symptoms, unknowingly putting others at risk.
Vaccination Saves Lives
Perhaps the most important point: flu vaccination is the best protection against flu. While a flu shot isn’t 100% effective, it significantly reduces the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Each year, flu vaccination prevents thousands of flu-related hospitalizations and deaths. By getting vaccinated, you help protect yourself, your family, and those who are most vulnerable in your community.
The idea that “flu isn’t that serious” is not only wrong—it’s dangerous. This kind of thinking leads to thousands of deaths from flu in the U.S. every year. Many people who could benefit from seasonal flu vaccination do not get their flu shot, missing out on the protection the vaccine can offer themselves and their loved ones. Flu can have deadly consequences, particularly for vulnerable groups, and it’s our collective responsibility to take it seriously. Getting vaccinated each year is a simple yet powerful way to protect yourself and those around you.
So the next time someone says, “It’s just flu, no big deal. Why bother getting vaccinated?” remind them: it is that serious—and we all have a role in stopping its spread.
Flu is more than just a bad cold. For more information about the 2024-25 flu season, click here.
What’s Really Going Around This Season?
Fall and winter bring a surge in respiratory viruses like flu, COVID, RSV, and the common cold—and with them, plenty of misinformation. Vaccinate Your Family (VYF) is here to help with our new Viral Mythbusting Campaign! Get the facts, debunk the myths, and stay informed. Check back weekly for new blog posts tackling the latest viral rumors and learn how to protect your family and community this season!
You can participate in our Viral Mythbusting Campaign by sharing the importance of busting respiratory disease myths on your social media platforms. VYF offers a free, downloadable toolkit that follows an evidence-based format for combatting misinformation: lead with the fact, warn about the myth, explain how the myth misleads, and finish with the fact. Sometimes called a “truth sandwich,” this is a proven way to address respiratory rumors.
To join:
- Visit our campaign webpage
- Access our campaign toolkit
- Share any time during this respiratory disease season
- Use hashtag #ViralTruths and tag @vaccinateyourfamily on IG and FB, @vaxyourfam on X so we can amplify your posts!
To find drafted flu myths social copy and downloadable graphics, click here.
Additional Resources
VYF provides up-to-date information on vaccine safety and access on our website. View our current programs to find more about our services and ways to get involved.
For more information: