Would you get the flu jab the day before going on hol? Worried about side effects ruining my trip

[nodentist]

Never had it before but usually feel run down for a couple of days after any vaccine. Would you go and get yours the day before you fly for a city break? Don’t want to be ill the whole time, a fever while you’re away sounds miserable!

Ooh tricky.

I didn't have a problem after this year's flu jab tbh and I often suffer quite badly. But I think it's a crapshoot depending on your personal immune system.

Definitely not! Wait til you’re back from hols

Never had any side effects so yes I would.

I think your clinician was making that up. Literally everything I can see from reputable sources online says that while flu jabs take 10-14 days to be effective and protect you against flu, the side effects come on in the first 3 days after injection, and that's certainly been my experience.

Covid vaccines were just the same: your system sometimes reacts strongly and immediately to the vaccine and then they work together over the next couple of weeks to produce protection.

Not sure what your clinician says is correct. I’ve always been told it can take up to 14 days for the vaccine to take effect but side effects are common within 48 hours. Anything past 48 hrs is not related to the vaccine.

This year I had a really painful arm at night and the next day, which is fairly common. The first time I got the vaccine I felt pretty rundown afterwards though.

I definitely wouldn't. Felt awful the night after my flu jab

Yes; wouldn't phase me

DH felt a bit rough after his, I just felt a bit tired and we both had a slightly sore arm. Gone after 24 hours.

What are the circumstances that means it’s turned out like this?

Noooooooo!!

I felt dreadful after mine this year for days. So did my parents and they are usually fine.

Lots of people I mentioned it to were exactly the same.

As you've not had it before I wouldn't if you're worried about side affects. Fwiw I never react to the flu jab but do to COVID.

If you normally feel rough after a vaccination then I wouldn't. I haven't ever reacted to a flu jab, so I probably would (though I'd have probably avoided booking it just before going away anyway.)

I had my Covid booster and flu jab together this year and felt rough for over 24 hours. Flu jab alone last year was fine. Any way you can get it done 3-4 days before your trip ? If not I’d leave it until you get back.

Definitely not! We both felt so rough after having it a few years ago, so much so that I wouldn't get it again. Obviously I would reconsider that if I had health issues

I wouldn't. I sometimes feel tired, and get a headache and generally feel a bit rubbish. So I plan to have mine when I don't have much planned the following day or so.

This year I only had a sore arm, but I didn't sleep great the night after due to this. I'd arrange either a couple of days before or after the holiday. I had mine much later than usual this year as I had loads of things planned October/beginning of November.

I was just about to say the same thing. Yes you can have side effects for 2/3 days after the jab. The vaccine becomes effective after 10/14 days. Either your clinician didn’t know what they were talking about or you misunderstood. I felt quite rough after my flu jab this year for a couple of days.

No, I wouldn't. Most years I have nothing but a sore arm and can't sleep on that side for a night or two. But a few years I've ended up taking a sick day off work because I have felt so ill 24h after the jab and my arm was so sore and swollen. And a few years somewhere between the two extremes.

Though this year's jab seems to have given fewer side-effects. None of my extended family who've had it have had any side effects at all, and I only had a mildly sore arm for a couple of days.

I think quite a few well meaning people always instinctively push back against talk of acute short term vaccine side effects and try to blame them on something else. I sympathise with their motives but it's not right.

I've seen so many people on MN who when an OP complains of feeling like shit after a flu / Covid vaccine - which is a common and well-documented side effect - immediately jump to "flu jabs can't give you flu, you were probably already incubating a bug and it's a coincidence"