Is it normal for flu shots to swell

This vaccine, which typically comes as a shot or nasal spray, can reduce your chances of getting the flu by as much as 60 percent. Most side effects from the flu shot are typically mild. However, in rare cases, they can be severe. Before you get your flu shot, you may want to know what to expect. A mercury-based preservative called thimerosal is used in some multidose vials of the flu vaccine.

This CDC table lists currently available flu vaccines and whether they contain thimerosal. The more common side effects of the flu shot are mild. The most common side effect of the flu shot is a reaction at the injection site, which is typically on the upper arm. After the shot is given, you may have soreness, redness, warmth, and in some cases, slight swelling. These effects usually last less than two days.

After your shot, you might have headaches or some achiness and pain in the muscles throughout your body. This also usually happens on the first day and goes away within two days. Taking pain relievers can help ease your discomfort.

Some research suggests that these medications might change or decrease how your body responds to the vaccine. Definitely don't mean to sound like your mom here, but Follow-up question: Are you planning to get yours this year? The flu shot can have side effects, but without it, the flu itself can be deadly. During the to season, there were an estimated 39,, to 56,, reported flu illnesses with 24, to 62, deaths in the U. Additionally, the CDC reported that the previous season included an estimated Just as a baseline, the flu can cause 12, deaths per year during a mild season, and anything over 56, deaths per year is considered a more severe bout, per the CDC.

Experts also say they have no clue what the flu season will be like this year due to the pandemic. Even so, getting your flu shot will still be as important as ever. Hesitant to get jabbed by a needle? We get it: The flu shot is still, well, a shot, and that's a turn off to some. It can be kind of a crapshoot, too. Meaning: The flu shot is not percent effective The influenza vaccine is estimated to have been 39 percent effective during the to season, according to the CDC.

To put that into a broader context, the flu shot generally provides about a 65 percent protection rate against contracting the flu, Dr. Adalja says. So while even that 39 percent figure might sound low to you, it's actually a decent number, and it does not mean you should skip your yearly shot which you should get by the end of October, suggests the CDC.

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I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Flu Vaccine Side Effects. Allergic Reaction Causes. Signs of Allergy. Non-Allergic Reactions. What You Can Do. A Word From Verywell. Flu Shot vs.

FluMist: Which Is Better? How Anaphylaxis Is Treated. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! This is because the vaccine is developed based on the specific flu strains scientists expect to be the most dangerous this year.

Doctors recommend getting vaccinated in fall, but it is never too late to get the flu shot. Getting it late is better than not at all. This November your donation goes even further to improve lung health and defeat lung cancer.

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