Break It Down: Flu Shots

Getting the flu is, at best, unpleasant. It can kill you. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Georgia is one of seven states reporting widespread flu activity this year. In metro Atlanta, 47 people have been hospitalized for  influenza-associated conditions. That’s about double the number hospitalized at this time last year. The CDC recommends nearly everyone above the age of six months get an influenza vaccination. But people still seem to have questions about what these shots are, how they work, and if they are safe. The term "flu shot" is heard and used all the time, but not well understood. That means it's time to break it down. Then we’ll check our work with an expert: Robert Bednarczyk is a Professor of Global Health at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.

How flu shots work and why sometimes, they don't.