In the United States, the majority of medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Hospital Association, will recommend the flu shot.
However, for some reason, only half of American adults get an annual flu vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During the 2022–2023 flu season, when health officials and doctors warned the nation of a potential “tripledemic” of influenza, COVID-19, and RSV, no more than 55% of adults got a flu shot.
Among the main reasons why people don’t want to get vaccinated for the flu is a completely unfounded fear that the shot will give them the flu. However, this is an extremely far-fetched myth. As some vaccines, like the chicken pox vaccine, have a weakened live virus to stimulate the immune response, so does the influenza vaccine.
It’s basically an inactivated vaccine made with viruses that are already killed and therefore won’t cause infections. Even if the nasal mist version of the flu vaccine has some live viruses, they are extremely weakened, so much so that the spray form cannot cause any type of illness, as the CDC explained.
27 thoughts on “5 Side Effects of the Flu Shot You Probably Didn’t Know”
The major problem with all the Anti-vaxers is ignorance and gullibility!
And an ounce of precaution taking advice from a CDC advising school shutdowns and masks for all. When it comes to healthcare not every body is the same.
I’d rather suffer with a cold than die of heart falure
Do you honestly think we would believe the CDC.
I’LL BET YOU BELIEVE THE EARTH IS FLAT.
WHO DO YOU TRUST? TRUMP? HE LIES CONSTANTLY.
TIME TO WAKE UP NOW.
What does Trump have to do with flu shot? You’re response is childish
Why would I believe anything the medical profession says these days? The lies about the Covid shot have been so horrific that I will never trust the CDC again. I am not that stupid. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
And yet you are totally wrong. Who told you about issues with the Covid vaccine? There are nonthing
You probably listen to fox entertainment venue.
They have already been convicted for lying about everything trump. Trump and his cronies are the same ,they project, lie, and grift.
So all of these athletes falling over dead with heart attacks after getting the jab are just coincidence?
The CDC is a pack of grossly overpaid quacks who are too incompetent to cut in the private sector.
It’s sad that our scientists have worked tirelessly to save our lives and yet almost half of USA is throwing it right back in their faces. I am a retired school bus driver and let me tell you something. Ya’ll are so in to your careers and have children just to satisfy your family. Then as sick as sick can be you still send them to school to spread the love because you won’t miss work. One year that almost killed me! I’ve been getting the flu shot for over 30 years & will continue till I die. My mother in-laws mother died from the flu back in the day when there was no vaccine or antibiotics. One day ya’ll will get your bell rung & wish to god you had gotten not only your children but yourself vaccinated.
Just sayen
I was a 40 year RN, now retired. Most of the time I worked in ICU, and was constantly exposed to contagious diseases. I was skeptical of the flu vaccine when it first came out, but now get it every year. I had pneumonia twice working ICU, out of work a month each time. So sick I could hardly walk the length of my hall. Both times were years I didn’t get the flu vaccine.
Well said! Flu vaccines have been around for decades. I get the Flu shot every year.
I had high dose flu vaccine. Had flu vaccine yearly x 33 years until I had lymphoma–no flu vaccine for 2 years. This year had severe reaction after vaccine–chills, myalgias, headache, anorexia–symptoms remained 24 hours–suspect I had an overload immune response. Never had this type reaction in the past
Yes Kathy you are correct. Our immune system reacts to the vaccine and is building antibodies. The more your body reacts the better the protection.
No thanks, I will take my chances!
People who are afraid the flu shot could give them the flu probably had the shot or knew someone who had gotten the shot in the 1960s. That happened to me and I developed a short case of the flu. I was in college and lost a little more than a weekend that I should have been studying. It was years before I had another flu shot. Now that I’m older, I realize the need for it. But you should validate the fears of anyone who is afraid the newer shots will give them a case of the flu that the newer vaccines no longer contain the live virus.
I used to get the flu shot every single year, however I stopped getting it a couple of years ago because {even though the CDC has said “unfounded myth of getting the flu for specific reasonings} my getting the flu every single time is NOT unfounded to me. Every single year that I received the flu shot, I got the flu.
Therefore now that I’m older and do not want to myself through any unecessary illnesses, I’ve chosen to not receive the flu shot, and guess what??! I’ve not gotten the flu.
Whether the AMA or CDC says that this is an unfounded myth, for me, this was absolutely NOT an unfounded myth. And I’m sure that I am not the only person who thinks this same way.
As the flu virus contains no live cells there is no possibility to get the flu from the vaccine.
You apparently had already been exposed to the live flu from other sick people.
Had a flu shot twice in my life. Both times, it brought out flu symptoms. Call it what you want, but if it makes you feel sick, it caused the sickness. On top of it, last time left an big itchy welt on my arm for 3 months. Now, they are pushing multiple vaccines in one visit. God help us all.
My wife and I (82 year old Veteran) do NOT Trust anything the CDC, Pfizer, Moderna, FDA or the bribe taking GRIFTER in the White House says about any vaccine or flu shot! We will NOT comply and we did not and will not get the covid or flu vaccine. Period.
Your skepticism is more than likely the reason youre still alive at 82 and probably will live alot longer.
Moronizm is a horrible disease.
Very contagious and spreading rapidly, with high concentrations in Fortville. The prognosis is grim, but there is hope. Perhaps a wall around Foxville?
Good for you for speaking out! You are right on as far as I’m concerned.
My mother died at 95, she had a flu shot ever year.
Good advice and information. I thought it was going to be an anti vaxxer rant, but I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t used to get the flu shot, I thought I was tough. Then I got the flu. I was sick for the better part of two weeks. Now I get all the shots. Science is science. Ignore it at your own peril.