Can the Flu Shot Give You the Flu?
A common reason people don’t get the flu shot is worry that the vaccine might give them the flu, says Jennifer Horney, PhD, the director of the epidemiology program at the University of Delaware in Newark.
“This is a widespread myth,” she says. “While some vaccines — for example, the chicken pox vaccine — contain a weakened live virus to stimulate an immune response, the flu shot is an inactivated vaccine made with viruses that have been killed and are therefore not infectious.”
What Are the Main Side Effects of the Flu Shot?
- Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
- Headache
- Fever
- Nausea
- Muscle aches
- Fatigue
Generally flu shot side effects last a few days at most and are typically mild.
“You can have a sore arm, feel a little achy for a day or two, and maybe have a low-grade fever as your immune system gets turned on,” says James Conway, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health.
“If so, take some Tylenol or some ibuprofen and ride it out — it’s a small inconvenience and certainly well worth the protection from what could be a potentially devastating disease,” he adds.
Are Flu Shot Side Effects Worse Than Getting the Flu?
Many people are concerned that side effects of the flu shot could be worse than getting the flu itself, notes Dr. Horney.
“The potential risks of a severe case of influenza far outweigh any very limited risk of side effects from the vaccine,” she says.
Some people equate the flu with having a bad cold. While the flu and the common cold have some symptoms in common, the flu can knock people flat for a few days to as long as two weeks, and it can also have consequences that are far more dire.
It’s possible to get the flu even if you’ve been immunized. But you are less likely to die, be hospitalized, or be admitted to the ICU, Horney says.
