Possible Side Effects of Flu Shot

Influenza or flu is a viral infectious disease, that is often accompanied by symptoms like fever, sore throat, cough, severe headache, muscle pain and general weakness. Influenza is caused by the RNA viruses that belong to the family of Orthomyxoviridae, which are commonly known as influenza viruses. The disease can sometimes lead to pneumonia, which can prove fatal. The flu shot is an annual vaccine, that is given to provide protection against influenza, that causes seasonal epidemics throughout the world. Even before the swine flu pandemic, that the world has witnessed in 2009, about 250,000 to 500,000 people are estimated to die each year due to seasonal influenza. Therefore, physicians, many times recommend the annual flu shot for the people who are more likely to get infected.

Types of Flu Shot
There are mainly two types of flu shots; one is the regular shot that is administered with the help of a needle. This type of flu shot contains inactivated or dead virus and hence, it cannot cause flu. The second type of flu shot is a nasal spray vaccine that contains live, but altered and less virulent virus. So, it cannot cause serious illness like flu. The nasal influenza vaccine is however, not recommended for pregnant women, infants, elderly individuals and anyone with a medical condition. It can be given only to healthy individuals in the age group of 2 to 49 years.

Flu Shot Dangers
Its serious side effects are very rare. Most of the time, individuals can feel some mild flu shot reactions, that go away on their own within a day or two. As the traditional flu shot contains only dead or inactivated virus, it cannot cause flu. However, people can experience some mild flu shot side effects like, swelling, redness and soreness at the vaccination site, a low-grade fever that can last for a few hours to a day, chills, muscle pain and headache. These possible side effects can appear a few hours after the shot was given and they can last up to 2 days.

Allergic reactions such as hives and anaphylaxis are very rare flu shot side effects. But, anaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition, that requires immediate medical attention. This kind of flu shot reactions can develop in individuals who are allergic to egg. Therefore, flu shot is generally not recommended for such people. Apart from the people allergic to egg, flu shot is also not given to those who earlier had a severe reaction after getting flu vaccine, those suffering from fever, or any other illness along with fever, and children below the age of 6 months.

Like the traditional flu shot, nasal flu vaccine can also cause some minor side effects. Though, the nasal flu vaccine contains live virus, it does not cause the severe symptoms associated with influenza. This is because, the virus is altered in the laboratory to weaken it or make it less virulent. Some possible side effects of nasal flu vaccine, which are also known as 'flumist' are, runny nose, headache, mild fever, nausea and vomiting and muscle pain. Some people can also get a sore throat and cough after getting the nasal flu vaccine.

So, most of the possible side effects are mild in nature, and they resolve on their own within a few days, without requiring any kind of medical intervention. Rarely, the shot can cause side effects, that lead to death of an individual. Compared to the risks of influenza, the risks associated with the flu shot are minimal. However, along with treatment and flu shot, curbing the spread of the flu virus is equally important for effective prevention of influenza. The flu virus generally spreads from person to person mainly, through coughing and sneezing. So, always make sure to cover your nose and mouth with tissues while sneezing or coughing, and wash your hands properly with soap or alcohol rub, frequently. To sum up, maintaining public and personal hygiene is the key to prevent the spread of this disease.