flu shots and the flu

Factual Questions
1

My nephew (almost 2yo) had a flu shot Monday. He spent some time in my house this weekend, and now everyone in the house is spewing fluid from both ends. Is it possible that we caught the flu from him, or is this just a coincidence?
I work retail, and the others in the house work for the school district, so it’s not like we’re isolated, but to all get sick simultaneously would suggest a common source.

I was under the impression that the “new” shots didn’t make you sick.

I’m not seeking medical advice, just have a thirst for knowledge, and want to know whom to blame:)

2

The “flu” shot is designed to prevent influenza, an extremely nasty viral respiratory infection associated with high fever (104 is not uncommon in adults), horrendous coughing, severe aches and pains, and loss of appetite. It rarely causes vomiting or diarrhea in adults, altho it can cause some such symptoms in younger children.

I would doubt that the symptoms such as you describe would be in any way related to the influenza vaccine. Some folks get mild low grade temperature elevations and mild aches from the shots, but they’re the exception rather than the rule. Rarely, younger kids may vomit after the shot.

From the CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

QtM, MD

3

I would like to briefly hijack this thread to point out that I read the question, and thought, “well this sounds interesting”, then I saw that Qadgop the Mercotan had replied, I HAD to read it because every single time I’ve read a reply he’s posted about medicine, it’s made sense and explained in a way that’s accessible to a dope like me.

I’d say I wish i had a doctor like him, but I do. In fact, I’ve recommended Dr. Beth to others for those very reasons, no question is too dumb for her to answer, and she’s not done answering til she’s comfortable that I know what I need to know.

Thanks for being here Q!

4

iana doc but multiple peeps coming down with those symptoms sounds like food poisoning to me, did you all eat the same thing at some point?

5

The vaccine is “grown” in chicken eggs (which, after the vaccine is extracted, are destroyed.) Is the reaction in the OP consistent with a chicken egg allergy?

6

Not considering that it was spread to other people, no.

7

Is it chicken? My doctor told me that the virus was incubated in DUCK eggs.

Hey, QtM, I have a very slight allergy to eggs (which precludes me taking the shot). In your experience (and I’m NOT asking you for medical advice, or to overrule my MD’s opinion), does the minor risk of a reaction from the allergy outweigh the benefit of having the vaccine?

8

Risk quantification is a grey area. Given that I don’t know your risk factors for either the flu or for extremely dire consequences from the flu, or for the risk of dying from eggs, I wouldn’t begin to guess.

Tho in general, I’d recommend anyone with an egg allergy avoid the flu vaccine, as for the average individual, allergic reactions are probably more deadly than cases of the flu.
And thanks, Mr Bus!

9

Regarding the food poisoning possibility, this is highly unlikely since we all work different schedules, and rarely eat together, or even the same thing. (we eat out frequently) But within hours, we all took turns vomiting. The only common denominator I can see is the exposure to my nephew. I have just been informed that my brother was ill for two days after his son was vaccinated, so the flu shot may not have been the culprit. Or maybe it was. What do I know?

SP