People usually get the flu vaccine starting October to ward off the disease, but in some cases, it may be accompanied by some side effects that must be identified in advance.
Many mistakenly believe that getting the flu vaccine will cause diseases immediately after the vaccine is taken, but this is a popular myth.
On the Menshealth website, Professor Mandro Pikosz, a professor of biology at Johns Hopkins University, explains that the flu vaccine is a dead virus that consists only of half the virus, which is the part needed to trigger the immune response. He adds that the vaccine is injected into the arms, which is not where the flu hits the body, so there’s no possibility of getting flu as a result of the injection.
However, one may feel uncomfortable after taking the vaccine, and may suffer from some side effects, which are very similar to the flu symptoms.
The side effects of influenza vaccine 2018-2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) include soreness, redness, and/or swelling from the shot, headache, fever, nausea, and muscle aches.
Most people develop mild redness and soreness at the place of vaccination, said Picosz.
These are normal symptoms, partly because of the immune system in the human body that interacts with the vaccine, he added.
If someone takes the spray flu shot, there are also some side effects associated with it, such as runny nose, nasal congestion, fever, sore throat, lack of appetite, coughing and, in some cases vomiting, Picosz said, adding that these symptoms usually last no more than a day or two.
Although the CDC is not recommending a particular method, it should be avoided by pregnant women, children under 2 years of age, people over 50 years of age, and people with immune system weakness or asthma.
In rare cases, some may be allergic to the vaccine. Symptoms include difficulty in breathing, swelling around the eye or mouth area, weakness and dizziness. These symptoms usually occur within a few minutes to hours after taking the vaccine.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm.
