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.

I’m a flu vaccinator - it cannot give you the flu as it’s not a live vaccine but it can make you feel a bit “virally” for a day or so. I had mine this week and I certainly felt a bit off colour the following day although this year’s actual injection doesn’t seem to sting as much as last years.

The flu jab is NOT 100% going to protect you from getting the flu but it will reduce your risks massively which this year is pretty important.

I’ve run a flu clinic for several years now and so far, the uptake for the vaccination this year is far far higher than I’ve ever seen.

The flu jab this year was much less painful than in previous years. The pharmacist giving it said they were using a thinner needle. I like it! Can't even feel where I've been jabbed! Much better.

You need to isolate and get a Covid test, and stay isolated until you get a negative test result. A fever is one of the three criteria getting a test and it makes no difference that you haven’t got a cough or loss of smell.

It doesn’t matter that the fever could be a consequence of the flu vaccine because it could actually be Covid. It also doesn’t matter that it came down with paracetamol - a Covid temperature would probably come down with paracetamol too.

No, you don't need a test. You've got a known possible side effect of getting your flu jab. Just look after yourself & drink lots of water.

I'd be checking the leaflet. I get a mild fever some years but only ever in the 24 hours after. If it was a few days down the line I'd be checking if that's normal or if I should be isolating and testing.

Mild fever within the first 24 hours is quite common. 38.3c isn’t particularly mild, imho, and if your jab was a few days ago, I would not assume it’s the jab - it is not normal for symptoms from that to last more than 24-48 hours, 72 at the outside.

@tenlittlecygnets a bit harsh.

@blueberrypie0112 I've had that from the flu jab a few times as well. It can make you a bit asthmatic if you have asthma.

Yes, every bloody year! First time was told coincidence, 2nd, a bigger coincidence, 3rd time, had to accept it was highly likely linked.

It's not a touch of flu, but a reaction to the vaccine which symptoms that mimic a mild case if flu, ie. Low grade fever aches, tiredness, headache, and just feeling rubbish for 2 to 3 days.

I still get it as I suffer from a condition that puts me at risk but I now accept I will be ill for a few days afterwards.

[quote nolovelost]@tenlittlecygnets a bit harsh.

@blueberrypie0112 I've had that from the flu jab a few times as well. It can make you a bit asthmatic if you have asthma.[/quote]
Thanks , I am glad I am not alone. I rarely have flare ups unless I am around things that triggers it.

Asthma is not a listed side effect on the flu vaccine leaflet I was given.

Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
pain and reddening at injection site
headache
muscle pain
tiredness

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
nausea
vomiting
diarrhoea
loss of appetite
joint pain bruising
shivering

Uncommon side effects (fewer than 1 in 100 people):
fever (fever was common in children and adolescents).

The leaflet also clearly states that the vaccine cannot cause the flu!! People need to read the leaflets they're given when they have a medical procedure.

Relative had the flu vaccine last week, within 48 hours developed fever (38.3), chills, muscle aches and diarrhoea and was told that whilst all these are indeed documented side effects of the flu vaccine (as previous poster referenced) a coronavirus test was still needed and she had to follow self isolation procedures whilst awaiting results.

I didn't get a leaflet to read of the side effects.

Paddlelane123,
What happened with your relative? What were the results? Did you find out.

I have similar symptoms to what your relative experienced. Fever, chills and muscle aches - I experienced that yesterday evening. The fever and chills are gone now. I experienced some diarrhoea today. It's not very bad though.

I took myself to my room and I am self isolating away from my family and I am not going out into public and meeting others. I think that's very important. I am waiting on being tested now. Although I really feel its not the covid19, my doctor said I need to be tested. I would be very surprised if I get a positive result back.

There's no body in my circle of close contacts, sick or displaying symptoms or a positive case. I haven't used public transport and I avoid crowds. It's been months since I was in my local city. I do sometimes like to eat out and the last time I ate out was 2 weeks ago. It wasn't a busy place at the time. I ate out with my partner and he's not sick or showing any symptoms.

that didn't last long. No fever today

Asthma is it’s own thing. Everyone is different. Asthma can flare up when your body is stress

Op those were my exact early symptoms.

Relative tested negative to Coronavirus thankfully so is assuming they just had a particularly potent reaction to the flu jab as all symptoms have now disappeared and no-one in their household / close contacts is ill.

@AlternativePerspective

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.

Your cardiologist should stick to cardiology and leave immunology to immunologists. The seasonal influenza jab contains only inactivated ingredients and cannot give you influenza. Fact!

I refuse the Flu jab now because whenever I have had it I have always ended up with really bad chest infections that have needed antibiotics, steroids & inhalers. Never get them if I don't have the jab & have even had flu when I have as well. I don't get colds or flu normally as a rule, probably only had two or three colds in total the last ten years.