Northwest Wellness
Frequently Asked
Flu Shot Questions

In the following information you will find a list of frequently asked questions of a general nature about the flu shot program provided by Northwest Wellness. Simply scroll down the page to read the answers, or click on a question and you will be taken directly to the answer.



Feel free to Contact Us regarding any questions not covered in this literature, or visit the US government's Center for Disease Control. There, you can download the US government's information statement about flu shots.



Why get vaccinated?

Many people think the flu is just the common cough or cold, but it is more than that. The flu is the fourth leading cause of death in our country.


Are vaccines safe?

Vaccines are tested extensively for safety, prior to approval by the Food and Drug Administration. However, no vaccine is 100% without risk. Although the risk level of vaccines is exceedingly low, efforts are being made to reduce the risk even lower by enhancing surveillance systems, researching vaccine safety, adopting administration policies that are safe, and providing education and information to parents, health care providers, and the general public.



Can a person get the flu from the flu vaccine?

The ability of the vaccine to protect against influenza during a particular season depends on several factors, but particularly the match between influenza strains in the vaccine and strains circulating in the community, and the ability of each person's immune system to mount a protective response as a result of the vaccination. There are several possible explanations for getting a flu-like illness after an immunization: It wasn't the flu. Instead, it was another virus, disease, or condition that caused flu-like symptoms (i.e., aches, pains, and fatigue). There are many viruses that can cause these symptoms: fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic fatigue syndrome. If this were the case, the influenza vaccine would not prevent the illness because the vaccine is only effective against illnesses caused by influenza viruses. Perhaps a person's immune system did not respond properly to the vaccination. Or Perhaps a person was already exposed to the flu before you received the vaccine. Although the vaccine may not prevent everyone who takes it from getting sick, it does reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death. That is why it is so important to get the vaccine each year for anyone who wants to reduce his or her risk of getting severely ill from influenza.

 

Who should get vaccinated?

  • People at high risk for complications from the flu, including:
    • Children aged 6 months until their 5th birthday,
    • Pregnant women,
    • People 50 years of age and older, and
    • People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions;
    • People who live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities.
    • Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu (see above)
    • Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
    • Healthcare workers.


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    Who should NOT get vaccinated?

    There are some people who should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. These include

    • People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
    • People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
    • People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
    • Influenza vaccine is not approved for use in children less than 6 months of age.
    • People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.



    When should I get vaccinated?

    You can get vaccinated beginning in October to as late as May. The flu season can begin as early as late October, but usually begins in late December.



    What are the risks?

    The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. Some minor side effects that could occur are

    • Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
    • Fever (low grade)
    • Aches

    If these problems occur, they begin soon after the shot and usually last 1 to 2 days. Almost all people who receive influenza vaccine have no serious problems from it. It does, however, take 1 to 2 weeks for the vaccine to take effect in the body. Sometimes people will have already been exposed to the flu before the vaccine takes effect and get the flu before the shot has time to work. On very rare occasions, flu vaccination can cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. As of July 1, 2005, people who think that they have been injured by the flu shot can file a claim for compensation from the US government..