Frequently Asked Questions

Getting the flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from getting the flu this season. You are 60% less likely to need treatment for the flu by a healthcare provider if you are vaccinated. There are other advantages to getting the vaccine, it has been proven to significantly reduce illness, antibiotic use, time lost from work, hospitalizations, and deaths.

NOW! Flu season is coming! Flu season usually peaks in January or February, but it can occur as late as May. Early immunization is the most effective, but it is not too late to get the vaccine in December, January, or beyond.

There are two different types of flu vaccines – trivalent and quadrivalent.

Trivalent vaccines protect against 3 strains of the flu, A/H3N2, A/H1N1, and influenza B. Trivalent vaccines are available in:

• Traditional flu shots, approved for anyone 6 months and older
• Intradermal shots, which use a shorter needle, approved for anyone 18-64
• High dose shots approved for people over 65
• Cell based shots created using viruses grown in animal cells and approved for anyone over 18
• Recombinant shots created using DNA technology, approved for people 18-49 with severe egg allergies

Quadivalent vaccines protect against 4 strains of the flu, A/H3N2, A/H1N1, and 2 strains of influenza B.

Quadrivalent vaccines are available in:

• Traditional flu shots, approved for anyone 6 months and older
• Nasal spray, approved for healthy people from 2-49, except pregnant women.

The flu vaccine is good for one flu season.

It takes approximately two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and offer a safeguard against the infection. Meanwhile, you will still be in danger of catching the flu. That is why NOW is the time to get your vaccination before the flu season is That’s why it’s better to get vaccinated early in the fall, before the flu season actually under way.

NO! Flu vaccines have a very good statistics. However, there are possible side-effects to the vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration carefully supervise the safety of the vaccines.

If you have a fever, you should postpone getting your flu shot until you are fever free; although, you can get the vaccine if you have a respiratory illness without a fever, or if you have another mild illness.

The nasal-spray flu vaccine can be given to people with minor illnesses, such as:

• diarrhea
• a mild upper respiratory tract infection, with or without a fever.

If you have nasal congestion, you should consider waiting to get the nasal-spray flu vaccine. Nasal congestion may limit the vaccine’s ability to reach the nasal lining.

Mild side effects usually begin soon after you get the vaccine and last one to two days. Possible mild side effects of the flu shot include:

• Soreness, redness, and swelling at the injection site
• Fainting, mainly in adolescents
• Headaches
• Fever
• Nausea

Possible mild side effects of the nasal spray include:

• Runny nose
• Wheezing
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Muscle aches
• Fever

Serious side effects usually begin within a few minutes to a few hours after receiving the shot. Possible serious side effects of vaccination include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Hoarseness
• Swelling around the eyes or lips
• Hives
• Paleness
• Weakness
• Racing heart
• Dizziness
• Behavior changes
• High fever

If you experience any of these reactions, seek medical attention immediately.

NO, you cannot get the flu from the flu shot or the nasal spray. The vaccine contains inactivated (killed) flu viruses that cannot cause illness. The nasal spray contains weakened live viruses. The weakened viruses only cause infection in the cooler temperatures found in the nose. The viruses cannot infect the lungs or other areas in the body where warmer temperatures exist.

Most health insurance plans cover the cost, but you should check with your insurance company before visiting your health care provider.

Make sure your health care provider knows if you have and of the following prior to getting the injection:

• A severe allergy to chicken eggs
• A history of severe reaction to a flu vaccination
• A moderate-to-severe illness with a fever
• A history of Guillain–Barré Syndrome (a severe paralytic illness, also called GBS)