{"id":629606,"date":"2024-09-10T09:30:27","date_gmt":"2024-09-10T13:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=629606"},"modified":"2025-09-10T21:58:41","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T01:58:41","slug":"does-the-flu-shot-make-you-tired","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/does-the-flu-shot-make-you-tired\/","title":{"rendered":"Does the flu shot make you tired?"},"content":{"rendered":"

An estimated <\/span>8%<\/span> of Americans get the flu each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you\u2019ve ever been suddenly sidelined by influenza, you\u2019ve experienced the misery of being completely drained\u2014too weak to even get out of bed. As you wait for the debilitating flu infection to run its course, you\u2019d do anything to speed up the process.<\/span><\/p>\n

Luckily, the flu shot is an effective way to prevent and decrease the risk of severe illness from the influenza virus, a pathogen known for causing significant respiratory illnesses during seasonal outbreaks. Administered annually (ideally before the flu season, which peaks from December to February in the United States), flu vaccines work by preparing the immune system to recognize and combat the flu effectively. <\/span><\/p>\n

Although not everyone will experience side effects like fatigue from flu shots, it is possible to feel icky and exhausted post-jab. Here’s what to know.<\/span><\/p>\n

Does the flu shot make you tired?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Thanks to vaccines like the flu shot, millions of Americans stay healthy, says <\/span>Jeffrey Zavala, MD, FAAFP<\/span><\/a>, a family physician in Billings, Montana.<\/span>\u00a0\u201cAn annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help reduce the risk of getting flu and any of its potentially serious complications,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anyone older than six months of age should get an annual flu shot to prevent them from getting the flu\u2014or make their symptoms less severe if they do catch it, <\/span>according to the CDC<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In some cases, getting the flu shot can cause side effects. For example, tiredness or fatigue can be a side effect of the flu shot; however, it\u2019s not very common, says<\/span> Raj Dasgupta, MD<\/span><\/a>, pulmonologist and program director with <\/span>Huntington Health Hospital<\/span> in California. Most influenza vaccine reactions are mild and resolve quickly. \u201cMost people don\u2019t have any reaction or side effects, but if you do feel tired, it\u2019s usually mild and goes away in a day or two,\u201d says Dr. Dasgupta.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Flu symptoms 101<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Why does the flu shot make you tired?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cSide effects happen because the vaccine is doing its job by activating the immune system,\u201d says Dr. Zavala. After a flu shot, your <\/span>immune system kicks into high gear<\/span><\/a>, creating antibodies and activating immune cells to prepare for a potential influenza infection. While essential for building immunity, this process can leave you feeling somewhat drained.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to fatigue, the most <\/span>common side effects<\/span><\/a> associated with the flu shot include:<\/span><\/p>\n