Flu shot FAQ

Every year the flu affects millions of people, with hundreds of thousands hospitalized. The influenza virus is especially harmful to children, people with chronic illnesses, older adults and people who are pregnant. While the flu vaccine is not perfect, it does save lives. Here are some answers to common flu-related questions:

Q: How can I prevent getting the flu?
A: Besides getting the flu shot, there are everyday things that are recommended for everyone during flu season:

• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based solution.
• Avoid contact with sick people. If you are sick, limit contact with others as much as possible.
• If you get the flu, stay home for 24 hours after your fever is gone. You may return to work after being fever-free for 24 hours (without using a fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol or Advil).

Q: Will I get the flu from the flu shot?
A: No, you cannot get the flu from the flu shot. The vaccine is made by either using an inactivated (noncontagious) virus or using a single gene from the virus (not the whole virus). This creates an immune response (antibodies) against the virus without giving you an infection.

Q: How does the flu vaccine work?
A: The flu vaccine causes your immune system to make antibodies against the flu virus, which takes about two weeks. Antibodies protect your body from the virus by creating an immune response from the virus in the vaccine. If you are exposed to the flu virus after getting vaccinated, your body will recognize the virus immediately and create more antibodies to fight it.

Q: Are there side effects from the flu shot?
A: The most common side effects are soreness, swelling or redness where the shot was given; fatigue; low grade fever or headache. These symptoms last no more than one or two days after getting the vaccine.

Q: I got the flu shot last year. Why did I still get sick with flu symptoms?
A: There are several reasons you may have experienced flu symptoms. There are many different flu viruses that can cause illness. It is possible that you were infected with a strain of the virus that was not included in the vaccine.

You may have had something that felt like the flu but was caused by a different virus, such as rhinovirus, adenovirus, or COVID-19. Or you could have been exposed to the influenza virus before getting vaccinated or in the two weeks following the vaccination. When that happens, your body wouldn’t have had enough time to develop immune protection.

Q: Why should I get the flu shot this year?
A: The flu vaccine can help millions of people avoid illnesses, doctor visits and hospitalizations each year. Getting vaccinated protects the people around you who may not have a strong immune system. This includes babies, young children, elderly people and people fighting cancer and other chronic illnesses.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have other questions about the flu vaccine.