Does flu vaccine give you a touch of flu?

[YellowWave]

I get the flu vaccine every year. Usually I get a sore arm, maybe some redness at the site of the injection.

I got the flu vaccine earlier in the week and now I'm not feeling very well. I'm not very sick. Just a little bit ache-y in my back and I have a fever of 38.3. I'm just after taking some paracetamol and I'm hoping my fever/temperature will respond to that.

I don't have cough, or Shortness of breath, or breathing difficulties or loss of smell. I have been relatively careful in relation to covid19. No crowds, no parties, stopped eating out last week and don't intend to eat out again. Contacts are low. Im hoping it's not covid19.

You need a covid test. A flu shot shouldn't give you a temp.

No. It isn’t a live vaccine so it’s not possible to give you flu.

I had the flu jab a couple of weeks ago. Not had it before and only had it because i'm pregnant. I've felt fine ever since, no flu symptoms at all.

Yes you can get a mild fever or body aches. Immune system working.

It won't give you the flu as in the illness.

I can give you very mild, flu-like symptoms (including a low grade fever) as known side effects.

This info is all in the pack information leaflet - did you take it away with your u?

Yes, I have sometimes felt a bit rubbish after a flu jab. Trouble is now you won't know if it's the cause of your fever, or something else, so a covid test is probably a good call.

It doesn't give you flu, though.

Yes it absolutely can. Was told this by one of the leading cardiologists in Europe because I’d been ill and he asked if I’d had my flu jab and pointed out that this could have led to me feeling unwell.

MN’ers wil tell you that it’s a coincidence but it very likely won’t be.

But it won’t be full-on flu, and should pass soon.

From NHS flu vaccination page:

"Flu vaccines are very safe. Most side effects are mild and only last for a day or so, such as:

"slightly raised temperature
"muscle aches
"sore arm where the needle went in – this is more likely to happen with the vaccine for people aged 65 and over"

So yes, OP, it could well be a side effect.

I had a reaction to my flu jab this to year. I felypt fine the day I had it but I felt rough for the following two days. My temperature was raised and I felt achy and generally under the weather. By day 4 I was back to normal.

Of course it’s possible to get side effects, but it can’t give you flu because it’s not a live vaccine,

Usually it’s your immune system reacting to build up the antibodies that you need to protect you. So the reaction is caused by the vaccine but it’s not the illness itself that you’ve been given (unless it was live).

Yes, it made me a bit asthmatic too

I'll be very surprised if a raised temp is anything to do with the flu vaccine. The nasal spray is live...but not the shot. This year I haven't even had a sore arm.

You need a covid test. As you have symptoms. The vaccine is nothing more than a coincidence. Yes, you may feel a bit off especially if you were incubating a cold anyway. Your immune system will have both to deal with. But being in a pandemic...you need a test.

You don't need to be surprised for long. A quick google will show you that its a common side effect.

Op, its the flu vacc.

I just had a flu shot today and the pharmacist told me I might have a low fever for a couple of days as an immune response, it also says so in the insert, which she gave me to take home. Even if the vaccine is dead/inactivated, it should still prompt an immune response!

She specifically said I wouldn’t need a covid test if the fever lasted only a couple of days. It’s really annoying to see people spouting inaccurate stuff on here.

Yes, so annoying.

It can’t give you flu though. But it’s not fully active for a couple of weeks after you have the jab, so it is possible to actually catch flu during that period, AND the vaccine isn’t 100% effective, especially if they’ve got the strains wrong.

You can't get a touch of flu.

Ooh I have a sore arm, I had mine done this afternoon! Definitely not 65 though (checks bus pass) and am self-medicating

It’s not flu, but it is probably caused by the vaccine.

One of my pet peeves on MN is people saying “I’ve got aches and pains and a fever after my flu jab, is that what caused it?” and getting shouted down that “flu jabs can’t give you flu!!! it’s just a coincidence!!!” in total disregard of the fact that they’re common and well documented side-effects of the vaccine.

@blueberrypie0112 - Yes, it made me a bit asthmatic too

What's a bit asthmatic?? You either have diagnosed asthma, or you don't.

And the flu vaccine cannot give you asthma. For Gods sake.

[quote tenlittlecygnets]**@blueberrypie0112* - Yes, it made me a bit asthmatic too*

What's a bit asthmatic?? You either have diagnosed asthma, or you don't.

And the flu vaccine cannot give you asthma. For Gods sake.[/quote]
Yes a bit asthmatic. I was wheezing and recovered quickly with an rescue inhaler for a few days, happens every time I get a flu shot

But I still going to get the flu shots. It could be worst

I'm still happy I got the flu shot and I would recommend it. The temperature came down with some paracetamol. I'm isolating in my room for the weekend in case it turns into anything more serious.