Common Side Effects You Could Expect from a Flu Shot

By Cedric Pascua

Getting the flu is so common that you’re likely to get the flu at one point in your life. The symptoms of flu are fever, chills, a clogged nose, and even coughs. It may also come with fatigue and body pains. Flu symptoms come and go, and you might need to ride it out for two to four days before you feel better. A way to combat the flu is to have your annual flu shot.

Once you take it, you are far less likely to contract the flu. Many people report only experiencing mild flu-like symptoms after taking the flu shot—but it is not without its side effects. Here are some of them.

Mild Fever

It takes roughly around two weeks for your vaccine to be at its optimal level of efficacy. A small percentage of people report that they experience a mild fever after taking their flu shot. But there’s little reason to worry. When this happens, it only means that your immune system is aggressively responding to the ingredients of the vaccine.

Muscle Aches

The majority of flu shots are administered through intramuscular injection. This means that a medical professional would need to insert the needle containing the flu shot straight into your muscles. The needle creates a microscopic injury to the site where it’s inserted. As you may have guessed, the penetration could sometimes lead to muscle aches.

Redness, Swelling, and Sore Arms

A typical reaction to a flu shot includes redness, swelling, and sore arms localized in the injection site. It’s generally a good idea not to get too worried about this. It’s a good sign that your immune system is working and is working well with the medicine. However, if you experience excessive redness or swelling, it might be time for you to consult your doctor.

Nausea

One of the lesser common side effects of getting a flu vaccine is upsetting your stomach. You may even feel queasy, but this is not necessarily a cause for concern. Immunology experts assure us that this is the body’s normal reaction to fending off germs, viruses, and bacteria. In the course of protecting your body, you may experience mild discomfort, like nausea and fatigue.

Fainting

Another side-effect that’s not too common is fainting. A tiny population of those who get flu shots report this, but this is more of a visceral reaction from going under the needle rather than an adverse reaction to the vaccine’s ingredients.

Why Shouldn’t You Get a Flu Shot?

Given the prevalence of information available on the internet, news about vaccines can often be misinterpreted, including the flu shot. What’s more, some people deliberately spread false information about them. We’re here to assure you that getting a vaccine is generally a good idea. There are only a handful of reasons you should not get a vaccine, including allergies to certain medications.

While experiencing an allergic reaction to a flu shot is rare, it does happen. This phenomenon is called anaphylaxis. The symptoms of anaphylaxis include wheezing, difficulty in breathing, and excessive swelling of the mouth and eyelids. Other symptoms include paleness, sweating, the presence of rashes, increased heart rate, and feelings of fatigue.