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Flu Shot: People
built 641 days ago
You may have heard about shortages of the flu shot in the past. This year, authorities expect there will be enough to go around. When shortages occur, health experts sometimes recommend a priority system. That means the people most in danger from the flu get their shots first and other people get theirs later.
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Several studies and government projections confirm that with or without a flu shot, pneumonia and influenza hospitalization rates for the elderly are less than 1% during the influenza season. This means that, regardless of vaccination status, more than 99% of people weather a bout of flu without requiring hospitalization. The director of CDC's National Immunization Program, Dr. Walter Orenstein, reported at an influenza conference that the "at risk" population, for influenza complications are small.
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A flu shot is safe for most people. Side effects from the vaccine are rare. You could experience soreness on the area where you received the shot, a mild fever and/or body aches. The discomfort should go away in a day or two. Very rarely people might have more serious side effects, like an allergic reaction. If you experience any allergic reaction to the shot, such as trouble breathing or swelling of your lips or tongue, call 911 or go immediately to a hospital emergency room.
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Who should get a flu shot?Anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, certain people should get vaccinated each year. They are either people who are at high risk of having serious flu complications or people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications. See the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for recommendations.
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No, the flu shot cannot cause flu illness. The three influenza viruses contained in the flu vaccine are each inactivated (killed), which means they cannot cause infection. Flu vaccine manufacturers kill the viruses used in the vaccine during the process of making vaccine, and batches of flu vaccine are tested to make sure they are safe. In randomized, blinded studies, where some people get flu shots and others get salt-water shots, the only differences in symptoms was increased soreness in the arm and redness at the injection site among people who got the flu shot. There were no differences in terms of body aches, fever, cough, runny nose or sore throat.
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Some people--but not many--should avoid the flu shot. People who have had an allergic reaction to eggs or to a previous dose of influenza vaccine should consult a doctor before getting a flu shot if they plan to get the shot at a place other than their physician's office. And those with a high fever should not receive the vaccine until they feel better.
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