Flu vaccine side effects

[Bmco]

hi all - being asthmatic in the UK I’ve had my flu jab for many years now. Sometimes I feel ropey for 24/48hrs after and sometimes not. Just wondering if anyone else has been hit quite hard by this years? It’s clearly better than getting flu but it’s been pretty bad. The first 24hrs I felt quite unwell, the next awful headache and muscle aches which I couldn’t shift. Day three today and the headache is thankfully only niggling now but my neck is quite stiff and I’ve a swollen lymph node under my ear! Thanks in advance, xx

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

I've actually been better this year than for the last few years! When I feel rubbish, I try to look at it as my immune system getting busy, though this doesn't necessarily help in the moment I know.

Flu seems to have had a rest during COVID, so I'd expect most people to be out of practice with dealing with it/not have been exposed recently (such a scientific way to express it lol, I'm not sure if that makes sense). I think I was just lucky/weird this year!

There are also probably many other factors - you might have picked up something else around the same time? Especially if you're anywhere near children.

Hope you feel better soon, but also yay for flu jab!

[Nanto4]

Good morning .

I thought it was only me!!

Had my flu jab last Monday ,never had any reaction in the past , this time i was floored ,2 days in bed with headache ,muscle aches ,neck pain ,headache lasted 6 days in total.Was perfectly fine before jab so im associating it to that .I hope you are better now .

[Bmco in reply to Nanto4]

definitely not only you - guessing it’s just the after effects or we both picked something up that timed perfectly! I’m 5 days on now and head ache nearly gone, no more muscle aches but neck still sore and lymph up so just waiting it out. Still better than my experience of flu thankfully. Hope you are all better now

[Hidden]

I was a bit under the weather for a couple of days this year. I always react in some way. This year my daughter was surprised to have rigors, headache and aches and pains for 3 days afterwards.

[Bmco in reply to Hidden]

I guess it just affects us al differently! At least we have the option though - hope your daughter is ok now

[fraid]

Had mine last week ,along with 4 th Covid,apart from latter inj hurting - never had before,now swollen and red,while flu one nothing.Am used to being yuk with M.E so hard for me to know which gave me mild headache but definitely better than flu,esp.with asthma! Could be you were incubating another bug at time of flu shot? Hope all better now.🤗

[Bmco in reply to fraid]

perhaps so - sorry about the ME. These things are sent to try us! Hope you are doing ok.

[1Fullerton]

I had my Covid plus flu jab on Saturday. That night I did not sleep at all for neck muscle pain and back pain, and occasionally feeling a little faint. Yesterday was the same. However, another friend of mine was complaining of the same symptoms without having taken either of the jabs. She put it down to the atmospheric weather conditions in the past weeks. Having bronchiectasis, where you are weather sensitive, I tend to agree with her but I am a little confused now which is the culprit!

[Superzob]

until about 6 years ago, when I actually caught flu for the first time, the vaccine didn’t have much effect on the over 65s, and the side effects were minimal. So, to make it more effective, they introduced an “adjuvant” which primes the immune system. This has the consequence of making the side effects worse. But, as you say, I wouldn’t want the real thing again!

[Bmco in reply to Superzob]

oh I didn’t know that! I knew there were age versions but not why. How interesting. And yes - thankful to have.

[peege]

Normally I'm fine after flu jab however, this year I had both flu & covid vaccinations seconds apart. Two sore arms for 4 days, felt rubbish for 2-3 days but okay now. I've no idea which jab caused the issues. I refrained from taking paracetamol and let my body do it's work. I put it down to perhaps the flu ingredients changed this year or the fact that I've never had a Moderna jab (albeit this one with Omicron protection).

Just very pleased to have had both

[Bagpiper0304]

did you get your covid vaccination at the same time?

I’ve not had my flu jab this year yet so hopefully I’ll be okay

[Bmco in reply to Bagpiper0304]

no I am having Covid this week. Am sure you will be fine - most years I wouldn’t even know I had the flu jab, just this one oddly…or not if I was harbouring something behind the scenes.

[kazatron]

Hi! I am new to the site but have had fibro for 9 years. Its interesting to hear how everyone is reacting to the flu jab this year. I have had the jab every year for the past 10 years and have never had any symptoms but this time I am feeling pretty rough. Stiff neck, muscle soreness and tiredness for past 3 days. I am due to have my covid booster next Monday so hoping I will feel better by then. I haven't had Moderna before so fingers crossed its not too bad! Kind of comforting to know its not just me though, sorry! 😊 Hope you feel better soon!

[Bmco in reply to kazatron]

seems like lots of us are reacting - I guess with not having had as much exposure we’re not as primed as we normally are! Hope you feel better soon x

[Mandevilla]

Having my first ever flu jab next Tuesday - reading this is making me nervous! I've yet to have a jab of any kind that I don't react badly to, so hearing how even people who don't normally react are feeling poorly is a bit worrying!

[Bmco in reply to Mandevilla]

don’t worry - I’ve had such mixed responses but they don’t last long. Plus, given how random this is I am guessing you won’t respond badly to this one if you normally do. Just keep thinking it’s only a few days of feeling crummy and you’ll be well protected for the winter x