Are
There Any Flu Shot Side Effects?
Flu shot side effects are rare
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
"The risk of a flu shot causing serious harm, or death, is
extremely small. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, may rarely
cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. Almost
all people who get influenza vaccine have no serious problems from
it. "The possible flu shot side effects are:
- Soreness, redness, or swelling in the area
that the shot was given
- Low grade fever
- Headaches
- Muscle aches
It is true that one can have life-threatening
allergic reactions as one of the flu shot side effects, although
rare. Signs that one is having an allergic reaction are: problems
breathing, hoarseness, wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, rapid
heartbeat, or dizziness. Anyone can have this flu shot side effect
if they have severe allergies to eggs. Flu
vaccines are grown in chicken egg then killed and purified to
use as prevention of the flu virus.
Others who can suffer from flu
shot side effects are:
- Those who suffer from Guillain-Barré
syndrome (GBS)
- Infants under 6 months of age
- Anyone who has had severe flu shot side effects
in the past
- Anyone who is sick with a fever
It is not true, however, that one of the
flu shot side effects is actually getting the flu. The flu vaccine
uses a dead virus. Live viruses used as vaccines (nasal spay, flu
mist) can cause a mild case of the flu. Flu shot side effects usually
occurs in children who have never had the flu virus before.
To avoid one of the most common flu shot side effects, soreness,
redness, or swelling in the area that the shot was given, put a
warm washcloth on the area. Also, for any flu shot side effects
such as aches or fever take acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Since there may be flu shot side effects, as with any type of medication,
and strains of the flu virus do not always match up to the strains
in the flu vaccine it is wise
to exercise other options in addition to or in place of the flu
vaccine.
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