{"id":15522,"date":"2020-09-21T09:00:59","date_gmt":"2020-09-21T13:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=15522"},"modified":"2024-05-22T13:39:30","modified_gmt":"2024-05-22T17:39:30","slug":"flu-shot-reactions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-shot-reactions\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the most common flu shot side effects?"},"content":{"rendered":"

An annual flu shot is the single best way to protect yourself and your family members against influenza viruses, according to the <\/span>Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/span><\/a>. But, during the <\/span>2020-201 flu season<\/span><\/a>, only about 50% of adults in the United States received the flu vaccine and 59% of children. While that\u2019s an increase of about 2% from the previous season, it still means that only half of the country chose to get the flu shot.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reasons for vaccination hesitancy are numerous. Maybe you couldn\u2019t find the time, or you felt like you were healthy enough to fight off the flu virus on your own. But when the flu vaccine is well-matched to circulating flu viruses, research shows it can <\/span>reduce the risk of illness by 40%-60%<\/span><\/a>. Also, getting the flu vaccine reduces the likelihood that you will pass the flu virus on to vulnerable family members or those who are not eligible to receive the vaccine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even in those who are otherwise healthy, getting sick with the flu puts you at risk for <\/span>serious allergic reactions, but these are quite rare<\/span><\/a>. For many, concern over flu shot side effects makes them avoid getting the injection, but is this fear warranted? Let\u2019s take an in-depth look at the potential side effects of the influenza vaccination.<\/span><\/p>\n

Flu shot side effects<\/b><\/h2>\n

Flu shot side effects generally fall into two categories: site reactions and systemic reactions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most <\/span>side effects<\/span><\/a> from the flu shot can occur soon after getting vaccinated and typically resolve within one to two days (and are local), says <\/span>Ankur Patel, MD<\/span><\/a>, a geriatrician and chief medical officer at <\/span>Tabula Rasa HealthCare<\/span><\/a> in Moorestown, New Jersey. Site reactions are a local response around the injection site that may include redness, swelling, soreness, discomfort, or pain. This type of reaction is the most common adverse effect of the flu shot. Dr. Patel adds that there are no long-term side effects associated with the flu shot.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Systemic reactions tend to be why otherwise healthy people think they\u2019re getting sick from the flu, even when they aren\u2019t. For example, you may experience a runny nose, headache, cough, fever, nausea, or muscle aches, and think you have the flu, Dr. Patel says. But these symptoms mean that your body is building immunity to the virus.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vaccinations prepare and \u201cteach\u201d the immune system to be able to fight this year\u2019s influenza virus, and mild symptoms are a sign that the immune system is learning and responding to the immunization,\u201d Dr. Gendlina agrees.<\/span><\/p>\n

For <\/span>individuals over the age of 65<\/span><\/a> and children under the age of 5, getting vaccinated is even more important. That\u2019s because young children and older adults are more likely to experience severe complications from the flu than younger individuals. There are two versions of the flu vaccine specially formulated for older people 65 years and up, the high-dose vaccine (<\/span>Fluzone high-dose quadrivalent<\/span><\/a>) and the adjuvanted vaccine (<\/span>Fluad Quadrivalent<\/span><\/a>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The high-dose flu vaccine contains four times the antigens than the regular flu vaccine, Dr. Patel says. Because of this, it provides high-risk patients (individuals over 65) with a better immune response and enhanced protection from the flu. But side effects are more likely too, he says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

High-dose side effects\u2014such as muscle aches, malaise, headache, and redness around the injection site\u2014are the same as with the regular vaccine, but their frequency and severity may be greater with a high dose vaccine, Dr. Patel says. Even so, side effects are temporary, and will be minimal in most patients.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who should not get the flu shot<\/b><\/h3>\n

According to Dr. Patel, the following groups of people should not get the flu shot:<\/span><\/p>\n