The flu vaccine prevents infection by the influenza virus. The vaccine comes in two forms: an injection or a nasal spray, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The shot or injection is a killed virus that can be given to infants older than 6 months, people with chronic conditions, as well as healthy people. The shot is used more often than the spray, because it can be administered to more patients. However, there are side effects to the flu shot vaccine of which patients should be aware.
Tenderness and Inflammation
Patients who receive the flu shot often complain of an ache or pain at the injection site, according to DiscoveryHealth. The ache can also be accompanied by swelling and redness. This reaction only lasts a couple of days at the most, and is caused by a local immune response to the vaccine.
Fever and Fatigue
The flu shot vaccine can induce a temporary rise in body temperature, and temporary fatigue, according to FamilyDoctor.org. The fever is usually mild. Fatigue usually accompanies the fever. These symptoms usually disappear one to two days after the vaccine is received.
Muscle and Joint Aches
Patients who are injected with the flu may develop generalized aches and pains, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The aches are usually felt in the muscles and joints. Movements may make the ache worse. This symptom typically lasts only a few days before wearing off.
Allergic Reaction
Some patients may develop an allergy to the flu vaccine. This allergy is usually seen in patients who are allergic to eggs, according to FamilyDoctor.org. People with egg allergies are affected because the vaccine contains a small amount of hen's egg. Allergic reactions symptoms usually develop within a couple of hours after being vaccinated, often within minutes, and include difficulty breathing, wheezing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, paleness and weakness. Any patient experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Guillain-Barré syndrome, or GBS, is a neurological disease characterized by fever, nerve damage and ascending muscle weakness or paralysis. In 1976, GBS was linked to patients receiving swine flu vaccinations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Numerous studies have been performed to establish whether the vaccine can cause the disease, but only one study has shown an association. The estimate is that one vaccinated person out of a million may develop vaccine-induced GBS.
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