Flu vaccine - is this normal?

I don’t want to attract a load of anti vax stuff here but I just want to know if this is a usual kind of response to the flu vaccine or am I a bit of an outlier?

I got the flu jab on Wednesday, felt absolutely awful that afternoon and on Thursday - fever, shivers, absolutely pounding headache, extremely irritable and also got bouts of stomach cramps and diarrhoea.

The area around my arm was also really hot and sore.

Friday I was just utterly wiped out tired and slept in and had pains in my legs and joints. Saturday was also a total write off. I think I slept for about 15 hours on Friday.

Today I was improved but still having aches and pains and a fever.

How long does this last ?

Lewis_Benson

Yes it can happen.

I had a similar reaction to covid jab no. 2.

Both myself and Mrs B had the flue jab last week, she had mild reactions to it, I had none.

I’d a bit of a fever after the covid jabs but nothing drastic.

This is going too long. I still feel very rough today. Headache, seriously tired, pain in my face down one side, very stiff back, hips and knees, tingly / pins/needles and still running mostly cold. Did a COVID test and it’s not that.

I’ll give it a day or so more.

Tonesjones

Get well soon

Arbie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058267818/flu-vaccine-is-this-normal

I get a similar reaction to the flu vaccine some years. It is part of the immune response.

If you are worried you must speak with your GP.

Graces7

My appalling reaction to vaccines is because I have CFS/ME. Which has immune system involvements.

But I am old and fine to stay home, and so much harder for you out there.

Hoping it abates soon and yes. seek help

Yes, my dad had a reaction like that many years ago. The actual flu is worse though - you wouldn't be able to type something into a computer if you had that.

Jim_Hodge

In a word, no. It's not normal but it does happen.

AndyBoBandy

I had the flu vaccine in October 2019, and for 2 weeks afterwards I had an absolutely rotton dose... full on flu symptoms for 2 whole weeks.. (It was my 1st and last flu vaccine, though I believe this sort of reaction can happen after the first one, and subsequent years won't affect you as bad/at all)

I've since had 3 Covid jabs and the only side effect was a mildly sore arm after the 1st 2 jabs.

Flu vaccine -- Never Again.

This isn’t the first time I’ve had the flu vaccine - never had a reaction like this. The joints seem worse this morning. I’ll see if I can get a GP appointment.

I’m still not quite right - inflamed joints - feet, knees, hips, back etc… on anti inflammatories for a couple of days which seems to be improving things.

Our immune systems have very individual responses to vaccines and diseases. Like another poster I got a very similar reaction to second Covid jab, was quite unwell over a few days. On a good note I didn’t actually get Covid. After taking oral cholera vaccine for travel (it protects against other gastro-enteric bacteria too) I got a severe reaction which sent me to bed and bathroom for days. I never developed travellers diarrhoea even in India as the benefit. A very extreme and rare reaction is known a cytokine storm, which requires urgent medical attention. It’s a bit like bee stings, harmless to most, but a small percentage can get life threatening anaphylaxis. Our immune systems are very complex.

I’ve had 3 doses of Pfizer’s COVID vaccine without any issue - felt a bit warm for a day or so but other than that nothing.

I got COVID quite badly a long time before the vaccines came out, during the first month of the outbreak and I’ve had all the vaccines and boosters since and I haven’t had it again and I haven’t really been in anyway extra cautious.

I’d definitely go for the bivalent booster as soon as it’s opened to my age cohort. They seem to work well for me.

I only get the flu jabs because I’m in contact with very elderly relatives with immune compromised issues, so it’s not really that I’m personally at any significant risk from the flu, but it’s just a precaution.