Flu jab reaction

[WendyS]

Anybody had a flu jab this year and suffered a bad reaction? I had one a week ago and have suffered six miserable days of shivering, coughing and sneezing. Can't believe the two weren't connected.

[LazyGun]

Known side effects tend to be related to the site of injection, ie soreness/redness. Rarely it can cause fever and muscle aches, and if you have an allergy to eggs you may suffer an allergic reaction. None of these would appear to fit your symptoms.
The vaccince does not contain live virus, so it should be impossible to get flu type symptoms as a side effect.
Unlikely as it may be, the probability is that you had picked up the flu virus in the 3-4 days prior to receiving the vaccine.

[1kayvee]

I'm with lazygun on this one, I suffered the same a few years back and went back to my GP to be told that you are only protected against certain strains of the flu virus and that I had caught a different strain.............sounds like you've done the same.............if it's any consolation that has only happened the once to me and I've had the jab since it became available...................get well soon!!!

[Andyvon]

Hello Wendy!
I have yet to meet anyone who has had a flu jab and not been ill afterwards. My father and his wife have jabs because of their age and they are ill every year. My brother is in his 40s and he is obliged to have one every year by his employer. Every time he is knocked up badly for about two weeks afterwards and he says that most of his colleagues are too. It's also the case at a day centre I visit frequently. I see the clients there have jabs, and then they are bad for a week or so - we predict it before they go the the doctor!

At the risk of upsetting the medical fraternity, I have frequently said that I will just catch flu naturally if that's the case. I see these people ill every year and I stay well. I will add that I developed real influenza (not a heavy cold) when I was 12 and I was very ill for the best part of a month. Once I'd recovered, the doctor said I may well never have a cold or flu again - and I don't think I ever have. I just get a tickly nose for a few hours and then it is gone, although my wife goes down with bad colds every year.

Perhaps it's not very helpful Wendy - and some may say irresponsible- but I would say just avoid these damn jabs. It's up to you. Its all very well promoting innoculations to fight epidemics etc, but they just seem to make most people ill anyway.

[WendyS]

Andy, Am beginning to think you're right. My husband has reminded me that for the past three years I've suffered similar reactions after a flu jab. He solidly refuses to have one and I think next year I will have second thoughts about it.

[kwicky]

I don't believe in flu jabs as there are so many varieties of flu about. Instead I have had a pneumonia jab, which is a one off for future years as well as tackling complications of flu. See your GP about this.