Ask the Expert: The Flu Vaccination
Katie McCurry, PA-C
South Point Family Practice - Stanley
Q: Does the flu shot give you the flu?
A: The inactivated flu vaccination (injection) will NOT give you the flu.
It is a virus that isn't active.
While the flu shot does not give you the flu, it is still possible to get
the flu after receiving the injection. This can happen for a couple of
reasons. First, you may have waited too long for the vaccination. It takes
two weeks for you to build immunity from the vaccine, so if you were exposed
within those two weeks after getting the injection, you certainly could
get the flu. Second, you may get a strand of the flu that the vacinnation
didn't cover. The influenza virus is remarkable for its high rate
of mutation, or how quickly it changes. New vaccines are created each
year to hopefully match the circulating viruses, but there is always a
chance a virus may be circulating that is not in the vaccination.
With that said, the flu can be life-threatening. Because of this, the flu
vaccine protects not only you, but those around you, such as babies, who
cannot receive the flu shot until they are six months old.
See your medical provider or local pharmacist today to get your immunization
before flu season hits!
South Point Family Practice - Stanley is a Level 3 Patient Centered Medical
Home. This means they have been recognized for their commitment to care
coordination and open communication with patients and all members of the
healthcare team. Patients should feel confident that a PCMH practice is
designed to provide higher-quality, lower-cost care to patients.
Click here to learn more.