The American Medical Association's series, "What Doctors Wish Patients Knew," states that last year, only 43% of Americans said they planned to get the annual flu shot. Their reasons ranged from 24% thinking they'd get the flu from the vaccine to 41% saying the vaccines don't work very well and 20% claiming flu isn't a serious disease.

These myths are bad science.

Typically, the flu vaccine is 40% to 60% effective, and when older folks get the shot for three (or more) years in a row they have enhanced protection from severe influenza, 70% protection from flu-related death, and more than 30% reduction in long-term dementia risk.

That's because the flu is inflammatory, and even if the vaccine doesn't prevent the infection it prevents a lot of the inflammation that would otherwise cause cognition problems.

And when lots of people get the shot, it increases herd immunity, protecting those who for legitimate medical reasons can’t get the injection, as well as babies younger than 6 months.

The injection can never give you the flu; even the nasal spray with the live virus is altered (attenuated) and cannot cause infection.

Some people do get a little feverish or achy as their immune system powers up after the shot, but that's not the flu.

October is a great time to get your flu shot if you are over age 65. A sore arm or an achy day is worth it for your long-term health.