The Common and Rare Side Effects of Flu Shots

The influenza vaccine is considered to be the best fortification from the seasonal flu, which is the reason millions of people around the globe take this vaccine every year by the recommendation of their consultant. The flu strains are very common in people, and this vaccine reduces the chances of getting the flu by 60 percent. It generally comes in the nasal spray, and in some of the multi dose vials of the vaccine, a mercury-based preservative known as thimerosal is used, which prohibits the growth of bacteria and other germs.

Thimerosal is declared to be safe and causes only a few side effects, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. You can ask your doctor if you are concerned about the thimerosal content in your vaccine. Well, the side effects of the flu shots are common in babies, children, and adults, which are normally mild.

Body Aches

Usually, it has been said that any vaccine can cause pain in the body, because of the ways they activate your immune system. If you feel pain in your body, there is nothing to get worried about. The body aches are the sign of the flu as the viral strains are regulating around the body from the time you get the vaccine. To become fully effective, the flu shots take around two weeks.

Fever

It has been observed that, after flu shots, people might get a temperature of around 101F. Fever is considered a mild symptom, which leaves within 2 to 3 days. If the fever doesn’t go or bothers you, simply take medicines from your doctor. There is no severity in fever after vaccine but falls in the list of common side effects.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)

This syndrome takes place in very severe cases and rarely. Guillain-Barre syndrome is a neurological disorder, which is experienced by some people who received the vaccine shots. In this condition, people go through paralysis and weakness all over the body. The actual cause is still unknown. It most probably occurs in the people who already had this problem in the past. It has been recommended to take proper medical checkup if the vaccine is safe for you or not.

Reaction around the Injected Area

It is the common side effect found in people after a flu shot. The reaction typically takes place on the upper arm. After the flu shots, people usually experience aches, warmth, redness, and slight swelling. The discomfort took two to three days to disappear.

Serious Allergic Reactions

Allergic reactions occur rarely after flu shots. It usually happens in the next few hours’ right after you get the shots. The symptoms of the reaction are;