[Rive1976]

Does the flu shot give you the flu or not? I got it one year and got sick. Someone I know got sick. People claim we were already sick and just didnt know it because it does not cause the flu. I am skeptical. I really want to get it but I dont want to be sick.

Originally Posted by Dnester

Does the flu shot give you the flu or not? I got it one year and got sick. Someone I know got sick. People claim we were already sick and just didnt know it because it does not cause the flu. I am skeptical. I really want to get it but I dont want to be sick.

The flu shot cannot give you the flu but there are some people who react to it with side effects such as aching or feeling under the weather. These are usually of short duration. If you had unpleasant side effects from it in the past, I recommend consulting with your MD and pharmacist for ideas. I take the flu shot without any problems but I know others who feel sick after it. It's a real reaction but not the same as actually catching influenza if that makes sense. Good luck

[healingme4me]

I started taking one years ago. I'm talking mid to late 90s years ago. At the time my late stepfather had a weakened immune system from having cancer and it was recommended that family members have it to increase the chances of not bringing the flu into the home. I've had them every year since. I want to say that I've had the flu but one time in all these years since. And it so happened that that was the year that it was later noted as a bad batch-meaning it was more like a placebo it wasn't a live bug.
Then with MS, I'm the one with the immune system that they recommend all household members having. And when my kids were small, they too had immune systems to consider. It is said that even if one gets the flu with having had the flu shot that it would be less severe than not having had the flu shot.

[AceRimmer]

The flu shot does not have a live virus so it can't give you the flu.

I forgot to say before that I think the flu shot takes at least 2 weeks to actually protect you so the earlier a person gets it the better. And last year when I had mine, the doc said that it is only ~ 30% effective in preventing the flu because there are so many different strains etc there is some guess work each year with how they develop it.

That said, I had influenza one year when I had not had the shot. It was horrible...I was in bed for a full week and it made my depression worse - some researchers think inflammation of the brain may be involved in depression. So I always give it a go every year and I believe it is best practice for me because I work in healthcare. Even though it's not a 100% guarantee. I say chat with your doc about your previous side effects.

[sarahsweets]

I felt under the weather only once when getting it. We started getting it years ago when my son almost died of the swine flu when he was 13. He is 22 now. Last year my youngest still got the flu but it was so mild that we didnt know it, she just got one of the strains that were not a part of that years' vaccine. None of us have gotten it in years.

[TimTheEnchanter]

Originally Posted by Dnester

Does the flu shot give you the flu or not? I got it one year and got sick. Someone I know got sick. People claim we were already sick and just didnt know it because it does not cause the flu. I am skeptical. I really want to get it but I dont want to be sick.

I have taken it for the past 15 years and I NEVER had a full blown (bad) flu.
I worked in a Casino, where all sorts of scummy and germy people frequented.
They gave us a free shot every year and it was worth it. They KNOW if you get sick they are out of money as well as less tables open etc etc

[Mountaindewed]

Last year when I got the flu shot I felt very sick to my stomach the next day. When I got the flu shot this year I thought I was having an allergic reaction but it was just a panic attack related to my anxiety about the flu shot. I’m still getting twinges in my left arm every now and then. I got the flu shot over a month ago. I don’t know if the pharmacist hit a nerve or what. He was in a hurry though and did it very fast.

I didn’t get the flu though.