Is the flu shot making you sick? Here is what you need to know



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Flu season is around the corner, and the Center for Disease Control recommends getting the flu shot in September or October.

It is not uncommon to have mild side effects, such as pain, headache, or a mild fever, after receiving a flu shot, but contrary to some beliefs, you cannot get the flu. with the flu shot, according to the CDC.

Here’s what you need to know about what to expect after getting your flu shot.

Flu vaccines have a good record of safety, according to the CDC.

Hundreds of millions of Americans have received flu shots safely over the past 50 years, and much research has supported the safety of flu shots.

The flu shot does not cause the flu because the vaccines contain an inactivated virus that is no longer infectious or a particle designed to look like an influenza virus to your immune system, according to the CDC.

Some people can get other respiratory illnesses associated with the common cold that cause symptoms that can mimic the flu.

Another reason people can get the flu despite being vaccinated is because they have been exposed to influenza viruses before getting the vaccine or within two weeks for the vaccine to work fully.

A third reason that people may experience flu symptoms despite their vaccination is that they have been exposed to an influenza virus that is different from the virus given in the vaccine.

Some of the mild side effects that people have reported after receiving the flu shot include:

  • pain, redness, tenderness, or swelling at the injection site
  • headache
  • mild fever
  • muscle aches
  • nausea

Usually, side effects from the flu shot do not last more than one to two days. However, it takes up to two weeks for the vaccine to take full effect.

You should contact your doctor if you experience the following side effects:

  • high fever
  • behavior changes
  • difficulty in breathing
  • hoarseness or wheezing
  • swelling around the eyes or lips
  • urticaria
  • pallor
  • weakness
  • fast heartbeat or dizziness

People with an allergic reaction to the vaccine or developing serious side effects should call 911 immediately and go to the nearest hospital.

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Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at [email protected]. Do you have any advice? Tell us at nj.com/tips.

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