{"id":40681,"date":"2021-09-13T09:30:34","date_gmt":"2021-09-13T13:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=40681"},"modified":"2025-09-15T19:05:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T23:05:11","slug":"can-you-get-the-flu-from-the-flu-shot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/can-you-get-the-flu-from-the-flu-shot\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you get the flu from the flu shot?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the warm summer days begin to fade and the air starts to turn crisp,<\/span> myths<\/span><\/a> surrounding the flu vaccine begin to circulate\u2014seemingly as contagious as the flu virus itself. \u201cThe most common things we hear are related to concerns of getting the flu from the flu shot and patients telling us that they are very healthy and never get the flu,\u201d says<\/span> Inessa Gendlina<\/span>, MD, Ph.D., an assistant professor of infectious diseases at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other myths include not needing to be vaccinated every year to maintain immunization, the flu vaccine not being very effective, and the flu not being very dangerous. With all these misconceptions swirling about, only about half of <\/span>adults in the United States get vaccinated annually.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although it\u2019s common to experience some mild side effects from the flu vaccine, serious reactions are very rare, and getting the flu from the vaccine isn\u2019t possible. Here\u2019s how to know what to expect.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you get the flu from the flu shot?<\/span><\/h2>\n

While mild symptoms such as a low-grade fever, headache, and muscle pains are common following an immunization, this isn\u2019t actually the same as getting sick or getting the flu. \u201cFlu vaccine does not contain functional influenza virus, and injectable flu shots do not contain any live virus,\u201d says Dr. Gendlina<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead, what\u2019s happening when you experience these symptoms is the body is mounting an immune system response to the flu vaccine as it learns how to fight the real virus. When someone experiences mild symptoms after a flu shot, it indicates that the immune system is responding to the vaccine. \u201cJust like it cannot give you the flu, it also does not make you sick. The vaccine will produce an immune response that can make you feel run down, but it is not the flu and nowhere near as bad as the flu,\u201d Dr. Wexler clarifies.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Can<\/p>\n

Is it common to feel sick after a flu shot?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Some people experience very mild flu-like symptoms such as low-grade fever, fatigue, muscle aches, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, cough, and feeling generally run down. These flu shot reactions are common and expected, according to Dr. Gendlina.<\/span><\/p>\n

While the flu shot itself varies year to year, the common side effects remain relatively similar, perhaps with individual symptoms such as body aches peaking more in one year versus another. Occasionally, fainting is reported following a flu shot. (This is why it\u2019s better to <\/span>sit down<\/span><\/a> while receiving your vaccine, and to be observed for 15 minutes afterward.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, it\u2019s possible that some people experience vaccine side effects as a result of the<\/span> nocebo effect<\/span><\/a>, which occurs when an adverse event happens as a result of negative expectations regarding a treatment or medication. Research has indicated that being told that you may experience a side effect can cause you to experience that effect, even if you\u2019re provided a placebo treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>What are the most common flu shot side effects?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

You may still get sick, even if you\u2019re vaccinated<\/span><\/h2>\n

It takes two weeks to build full immunity after receiving your flu shot. If you get sick shortly after receiving the vaccine, you were already infected with the virus before your body created a defense against it. It wasn\u2019t the flu shot that caused your sickness, just unlucky timing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, vaccine effectiveness varies from year to year. \u201cVaccines are based on a prediction of <\/span>what influenza virus types<\/span><\/a> are expected to be circulating this year, and if that prediction is not completely accurate, the vaccine may be less protective than expected,\u201d says Gendlina.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s also possible that your body didn\u2019t mount a full immune response if you\u2019re immunocompromised, pregnant, or age 65 years or older. Those medical conditions can leave you more vulnerable to infection even if you are immunized. If you\u2019re vaccinated, the immune system will still act to help fight the infection if you do get the flu, likely resulting in a more mild course of the flu illness than if you had not been vaccinated.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>What groups are at a high risk for flu complications?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Who should skip the flu shot?<\/span><\/h2>\n

While the flu vaccine is widely recommended for anyone aged 6 months or older, there are a few demographics who should take special consideration, says<\/span> Dr. Wexler<\/span>. <\/span>There are also certain populations who may be better suited for one type of vaccine over another, so it\u2019s important to seek medical advice regarding the best option for you. The most common considerations are:<\/span><\/p>\n