Flu Shot Side Effects

What are Possible Flu Shot Side Effects?

Flu Shot Side Effects – Flu is a very serious issue in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believe the United States records more than 3,000,000 cases and thousands of deaths each year in the country.

To ensure the safety of Americans, the Food and Drug Administration of the United States releases guidelines related to the flu vaccine each year, and every American should get their self vaccinated before the flu season, which usually falls between October to May. Flu season is going to peak somewhere from January to February, and you should be very careful even if you are vaccinated during that time.

Today we are not here to talk about the effects of flu on Americans but about vaccination. As the CDC has recently released its flu shot guidelines, it has become very important for us to discuss all the flu shot side effects. Yes, a few shots are also not 100% side effects similar to any other vaccine in the world. We will discuss every side effect in depth so let’s start it.

Types of Flu Shot Side Effects

Similar to most vaccines and medicine in the world, there are two different types of side effects. The first set of side effects is general side effects, and people do not require much medical assistance to get better from these side effects.

Flu shots also have a list of severe side effects, which cause some serious issues for the general health of the person who has received the Vaccine. You might even require any medical assistance to get better.

Effects at the Site of Injection

Most people who are going to get vaccinated with flu shots this season are going to experience some effects of the flu shot on the site of injection. It could be in the form of soreness, pain, swelling, or redness, and it can also occur in people who are not going to develop any of the above general flu shot side effects.

Usually, these effects are going to get better within one or two days of your shot. Even though the effects at the site of injection are going to be minimal, sometimes people can develop severe swelling or pain at the site of injection. In those cases, you are free to consult with your healthcare provider.

Body Pain

The second most common side effect of the flu shot is body pain, including headaches. More than 70% of people who are going to get a flu shot can experience body pain along with a headache after receiving the flu shot.

Usually, people do not require any medication to get better from body pain, including headaches, but you can consult with your health care provider if you are not able to get better within two days. To prevent body pain and headache, we highly suggest everyone rest as much as possible after getting the flu shot.

Flu Shot Side Effects
Flu Shot Side Effects

Fever and Chills

Similar to any other vaccine in the world, flu shots are also going to cause some fever and chills after receiving them. This is one of the most common and general side effects of flu shots that can get worse and become severe. In case you have recently received a flu shot and you are experiencing mild to moderate fever, then you should be very careful as it can get worse and become severe anytime.

People who are already struggling with any medical condition should consult the possibility of severe fever with their health care provider. 

Other General Side Effects

Apart from the above-given list of general flu shot side effects, there is also a probability that you might start developing other general side effects which are not much common.

First of all, there is a probability that you might develop sneezing and sore throat after getting the flu shot. Usually, it happens to people who are developing fever of any grade. Even people who are developing mild to moderate fever can experience a sore throat after receiving a flu shot.

At the same time, there is also a property that you can experience loss of appetite or diarrhea. There is a higher probability that you can experience a loss of appetite for one or two days as soon as you get your flu shot. Fever and other general symptoms can also suppress the appetite for a day or two.

Allergic Reaction

There is no surprise that flu shots also have a serious side effect of allergic reactions. People who are allergic to any ingredient used in the vaccine or in general should consult with their health care provider, as there is a high probability that you can get an allergic reaction after taking a flu shot. 

People who are allergic to anything in the world are advised to let the health care professional know about their allergic reaction status at the time of vaccination. Usually, health care experts monitor the symptoms related to allergic reactions after administering the vaccine if the person is allergic to anything in the world.

In case you have already received a flu shot and you have started to develop symptoms such as difficulty breathing, swelling on the face, swelling on the tongue, or rash on the face, then you should call 911 or consult with your health care provider as early as possible. These are the classic signs of an allergic reaction, and it can become fatal.

Guillain Barre Syndrome

Along with the allergic reaction, flu shot side effects also contain the possibility of Guillain Barre syndrome. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added a specific set of guidelines mentioning the probability of the syndrome.

Even though the cases of the syndrome are just a handful in the United States, even after administering hundreds of millions of dollars in the last few decades, you should be very careful when it comes to your overall health.

If you are concerned about any general or severe flu shot side effects, then you should consult with your health care provider before getting the shot.

What are some rare flu shot side effects?

There is a probability that you can experience a fast heartbeat after receiving a flu shot. It is one of the rarest flu shots’ side effects, and we cannot ignore the possibility.

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