# Have you ever gotten sick right after a flu shot? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 8, 2014, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092 "2014-11-08T20:20:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/41 "2014-11-10T00:31:17Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Could you speak to your GP about this next time you’re there and ask them to document it? If they doubt their version of events, your medical records will be out there for them to find, somewhere. Or have you tried this already? I’ve tried that already. The problem is that the problem occurred 30+ years ago, the clinic where it happened has been out of business at least 20, and the records are lost. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/42 "2014-11-10T01:55:29Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I think the examples in this thread say otherwise. You don’t get the flu from the flu shot. That was the point being made. The flu shot will not always prevent the flu but it will help prevent serious complications. > [@](#): > > [http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccineeffect.htm](http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccineeffect.htm) > > Flu vaccination can reduce the risk of more serious flu outcomes, like hospitalizations and deaths. > > A recent study\* showed that flu vaccine reduced children’s risk of flu-related pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission by 74% during flu seasons from 2010-2012. > > One study showed that flu vaccination was associated with a 71% reduction in flu-related hospitalizations among adults of all ages and a 77% reduction among adults 50 years of age and older during the 2011-2012 flu season. > > Flu vaccination is an important preventive tool for people with chronic health conditions. Vaccination was associated with lower rates of some cardiac events among people with heart disease, especially among those who had had a cardiac event in the past year. Flu vaccination also has been shown to be associated with reduced hospitalizations among people with diabetes (79%) and chronic lung disease (52%). The last time I had the flu I was in my teens. I missed a week of school, lost several pounds and did not feel well for over a month. I remember the distinct happiness when I finally felt well enough to sit up. I get the flu shot most years. The only reaction I’ve had is some soreness sometimes at the injection site. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/43 "2014-11-10T03:26:57Z")
Other than a mild fever for sometimes a day or two, and being sore at the injection site for a few hours? No reaction whatsoever. I’ve had the flu twice in my life. In ninth grade, after I’d been sick for over a week, my boyfriend stopped by the house to make sure I was okay. It’s a measure of how bad I felt that, when my boyfriend came over, I was wearing the same flannel pajamas I’d had on for days, a bathrobe, socks, and no makeup. Teenage me greeted my boyfriend in that getup, because putting on clean clothes, brushing my hair, etc., took more energy than I had. Then, in 2009, I caught H1N1 before the vaccine was available in my area. It was September, I was in my first trimester of pregnancy, and I kind of hoped I’d die. The day that I slept 19+ hours without even getting up to go to the bathroom, my husband called my mom to beg her to please come make sure I was okay, and to puppysit the German shepherd if they agreed that I needed to go to the ER. It was awful. I will take the side effects of the vaccine versus the flu any day of the week, and twice on Sundays. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/44 "2014-11-10T04:20:27Z")
The first year I ever had the flu shot was back in 1986. That year it was actually _two_ shots. I’d just re-developed asthma as an adult (after largely being in remissions for 10+ years) so it was advised for me - this was back when they weren’t pushing as hard for _everyone_ to get the shot. 2 days later I felt “flu-ish”. Not “shoot me now” but definitely under the weather. Next day I was fine. The day after THAT, I felt flu-ish again. Since then, I’ve gotten the shot every single year and have never had anything like that happen. So I figure it was either a coincidence, or a delayed reaction. Now, one year I got the flu ANYWAY - about 15 years ago. A lot of people got flu anyway that year, I surmised that perhaps they guessed _slightly_ wrong on the version to put into the mix. I had my shot in November or so and around February Dweezil (then about 4) was sick for a couple days, then Moon Unit (who was about 1), then me. I felt crummy for several days, including one 6-hour stint where I was spiking chills and fever and alternating Tylenol and Advil as frequently as I could without doing myself damage. I wasn’t actually praying for death during that one rough patch, but if someone had come in and offered to shoot me I might have been interested. That part passed but the next few days were a haze of “air hurts when it touches your skin” (whenever the Advil wore of) and hacking because as always, it turned into a secondary infection requiring me to go on antibiotics and steroids. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/45 "2014-11-10T04:24:58Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Last time I had a flu shot I erupted in hives, then breathing difficulties. It appears I’m allergic. > > However, since this all occurred about 35 years ago and was not documented to modern standards I still have to put up with my insurance company trying to strong arm me into getting a flu shot every year because it’s on record I have asthma, but not a “documented” flu shot allergy. > > I really don’t know how to resolve this annual annoyance. Egad. Scary. For what it’s worth, can you do some research into how they were made back then, how they’re made now, and determine if there’s been a significant enough change? Or might you be able to do the nasal spray version? I know that one’s usually advised AGAINST for people with asthma though it’s never been clear _why_ - my doctor said it would be OK for me to take that version anyway (my asthma is well-controlled and not brittle) back in 2004 when there was such a severe shortage of the injected version. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Holdsworth\_Effect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/848f3c/32.png) [@The\_Holdsworth\_Effect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Holdsworth_Effect)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/46 "2014-11-10T05:09:08Z")
FWIW, Broomstick, I don’t think you should “just try it” and I’d put anaphylaxis on your list. It sounds like the shot might actually kill you (I’ve two women in 30 years who get this allergy exemption) and while that would mean they’d not bother you any more about it :rolleyes: you might well survive the flu to be a continued source of irritation to the insurance co, a worthy goal. I have holes in my tongue from biting it when people tell me they’ll “take their chances” (Broom, only hang out with immunized folk ;)) because I want to scream THEN DON’T COME TO ME FOR HELP WHEN YOU GET THE FUCKING PREVENTABLE DISEASE!!! Jeez. There. I’ve said it. I’m a bad provider because I want sick people to stay home for common colds and non life threatening viruses. And earwax. Last week a person came in for clogged ears and she got a Pap smear :eek: because it was due and my assistant had the wax out in jig time, leaving me to do catchup on the stuff that is on my preventive radar. And, yes, she got her flu shot too! She was corrected, inspected and injected. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/47 "2014-11-10T05:38:02Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > No. Being poor and having less than stellar insurance, and since between my current GP and me my allergies/asthma are under really good control, the insurance company won’t authorize a visit to a specialist (we’re trying to save you money and prevent over-treatment!) and I don’t have the resources to pay for one on my own. > > \ > > Or my past reaction was a one-off fluke but honestly, risking allergic shock is not something I want to do. I don’t blame you one bit. And yeah, the minions at the insurance company’s phone lines are dumb as stumps. I hate talking to them. Sorry about the sucky insurance. At any rate, I hope things stay on the level, and that you don’t get the flu, or a flu shot. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/48 "2014-11-10T05:41:40Z")
> [@The\_Holdsworth\_Effect](#): > > I have holes in my tongue from biting it when people tell me they’ll “take their chances” (Broom, only hang out with immunized folk ;)) because I want to scream THEN DON’T COME TO ME FOR HELP WHEN YOU GET THE FUCKING PREVENTABLE DISEASE!!! My former boss used to fire parents from his practice if they repeatedly refused to immunize their children properly. I always did like him for that. > [@](#): > > Jeez. There. I’ve said it. I’m a bad provider because I want sick people to stay home for common colds and non life threatening viruses. And earwax. Last week a person came in for clogged ears and she got a Pap smear :eek: because it was due and my assistant had the wax out in jig time, leaving me to do catchup on the stuff that is on my preventive radar. And, yes, she got her flu shot too! She was corrected, inspected and injected. That is seriously impressive. Ear wax, pap smear, and a flu shot! Lube, oil, and filter! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/49 "2014-11-10T13:12:24Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > For what it’s worth, can you do some research into how they were made back then, how they’re made now, and determine if there’s been a significant enough change? I’ve tried, but can’t find much info on it, and some of what I have found is way too technical for me to understand it. > [@](#): > > Or might you be able to do the nasal spray version? I know that one’s usually advised AGAINST for people with asthma though it’s never been clear _why_ - my doctor said it would be OK for me to take that version anyway (my asthma is well-controlled and not brittle) back in 2004 when there was such a severe shortage of the injected version. The same insurance company is absolutely _adamant_ that, because I have asthma, I should never have the snort as opposed to the jab. The concern, if I have this right, is that the snort has weakened _live_ virus and this might somehow lead to an asthma exacerbation. I’m in your camp - my asthma is very mild for the condition and I can go months without symptoms. My insurance company, though, doesn’t seem to comprehend that asthma is a spectrum and assumes all asthma is severe, chronic, and brittle. I’ve also heard there’s some sort of test to see if you’re reactive to egg-based vaccines with no or minimal risk, but I don’t know much about it. I somehow doubt my current insurance would pay for it, either, and I expect it would be beyond my current means but I’d still like to know more about it. > [@The\_Holdsworth\_Effect](#): > > FWIW, Broomstick, I don’t think you should “just try it” and I’d put anaphylaxis on your list. Yeah, I’ve had a brush with that twice due to food allergies. You’d think people would stop rolling their eyes when I say “allergy” but the hypochondriacs and the woo-woo types have really done a disservice to those of us with actual, real allergies. At least when I went it for the colonoscopy the nurse-anesthetist took my concerns seriously. I also told him that if I woke up and he told me he’d loaded me up with adrenalin, diphenhydramine, and steroids because it looked like I _might_ be having a bad reaction I’d be totally OK with that because, you know, I’d be _waking up._ He was concerned about using Versed on me, you see. As it turns out, it does cause a problem for me. > [@](#): > > It sounds like the shot might actually kill you (I’ve two women in 30 years who get this allergy exemption) and while that would mean they’d not bother you any more about it :rolleyes: you might well survive the flu to be a continued source of irritation to the insurance co, a worthy goal. The problem is that they will NOT accept my word for it. Nor will they pay for an alternative to the normal flu shot _until_ I have a reaction documented to their satisfaction. I’ve had genuine flu twice, with such fun as a 103 degree fever. It’s never gone into pneumonia, or secondary infection, although of course my spouse watches me like a hawk, drags me to the doctor, and is more than willing to get my butt to a hospital if that looks like a good idea. But I am getting older. I would really prefer to have a flu shot (or snort) that is effective for me. > [@](#): > > I have holes in my tongue from biting it when people tell me they’ll “take their chances” (Broom, only hang out with immunized folk ;)) Yeah, well, I work retail, now. I have found that compulsive hand-washing helps a great deal, though. After an initial four months I have had few illnesses since near-constant contact with the public. Might add some hand sanitizer to my work kit, though. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/50 "2014-11-10T14:08:28Z")
It has been many years since I had a flu shot. It has been even longer since I had any flu-like symptoms. I have a well used yellow card full of vaccinations for all kinds of things. I am not opposed to them but I prefer not to take medicine that does not appear necessary. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/51 "2014-11-10T15:57:40Z")
Historically, I’ve gotten a sore arm, sometimes a headache or body ache after the shot. I now take an Aleve or ibruprofen right before the shot…no significant pain. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/52 "2014-11-10T16:04:35Z")
I am sure that at some point down the echoing corridor of time, I got a flu shot and then felt sick afterwards. But I am equally sure that as many if not more times, I got no shots at all and then felt sick later. ---
**Author:** ![UncaStuart](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncastuart/32/404_2.png) [@UncaStuart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncaStuart)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/53 "2014-11-12T03:06:28Z")
Been getting flu shots for the last, oh I dunno, 15 years, and the worst side effect has been pulling the little circular bandaid if it snagged some of my shoulder hair. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/57b2e6/32.png) [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/54 "2014-11-12T03:31:06Z")
I must have had full blown flu. Four day fever and seven days so far of cough and runny nose. I still feel light headed. The flu landed “fortunately” over the long weekend so I could rest. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/55 "2014-11-13T16:35:15Z")
Get the flu shot every year. Over 20,000 Americans die each year from the flu. While most of them are the elderly or very young, who probably have other illnesses that result in the flu killing them. The amount of press that resulted from a few people getting ebola and so far only one person dying in the US from ebola was HUGE!!! But we think nothing as a society of the many people that die each year because they catch the flu. Most people can easily get over the flu…a week or so in bed…achey muscles, etc. etc. but catching the flu normally results in passing it along to someone else and they onto someone else. The vaccine helps significantly reduce the spread of the virus so that those that **are** at greater risk to death from the flu are at less risk of catching it. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/56 "2014-11-13T16:57:53Z")
I got a flu shot (well, nasal spray) last Thursday. Friday morning I woke up with a UTI. The nurse told me when she gave me the spray that one reason why people get a sore arm after getting the shot is because they tense up. I’m extremely needlephobic, so I’m always tense when a hypodermic’s around me. The last time I got a flu shot my arm was sore for days. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/57 "2014-11-13T17:30:30Z")
**Broomstick** , are you by any chance allergic to eggs? My dad is and he has to get a different flu shot because of it. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/58 "2014-11-13T17:58:22Z")
The one time I ever got a flu shot is the only time I ever got the flu. All the research and science says that’s pure freak coincidence, which I agree with, but still… ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/59 "2014-11-13T19:04:06Z")
Got my first flu shot two years ago and came down with a cold two days later. Should I have asked for the ANTI-flu shot instead? I’ll get one this year but I’m not completely convinced it actually does anything useful in an otherwise healthy person. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092/60 "2014-11-13T19:54:50Z")
Mrs. Plant and I have the worse flu we have ever had, three weeks are I had a flu shot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-gotten-sick-right-after-a-flu-shot/704092.md?page=4)