Other information about getting a flu shot

Who should not get it? Some people should not get the flu vaccine, including:

• Babies less than 6 months old.
• Anyone with an allergy to the flu vaccine or any ingredient in it. Many people with egg allergies need to take a specific flu vaccine that is egg-free.
• Anyone who has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome.
• Anyone who is currently ill. You should wait until you are feeling better before getting the vaccine.

You can’t get the flu from the flu vaccine. Today’s version of the flu shot contains only dead viral material. It’s inactive, so you can’t get the flu from the shot. The side effects you may get from the vaccine are due to your immune system’s response to receiving a vaccination.

The nasal spray does contain the live flu virus. However, it’s been altered so you can’t become infected with the flu from receiving the nasal spray.

It’s safe for pregnant people. The flu vaccine has been proven safe and effective for pregnant people. However, pregnant people should make sure to get the flu shot and not the nasal spray.

Pregnant people are more prone to complications if they get sick with the flu. Becoming infected with the flu while pregnant can also cause harm to the baby. Getting the flu shot helps to prevent you from getting the flu while pregnant. It also causes you to pass flu antibodies on to your baby, giving them protection once they are born.

The side effects of the flu shot are the same for pregnant people as they are for anyone else.

Vaccine safety. Both the CDC and the FDA monitor vaccine safety in the U.S. They use the following two systems: Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD).

Anyone can report vaccine side effects to VAERS online. Because of this, it’s hard to determine if the person’s reaction or symptoms were in fact caused by a vaccine. However, this system helps the CDC and FDA look for patterns of reactions or symptoms in the general public.

VSD uses electronic health information from 9 different health care organizations across the country. It allows the CDC and FDA to monitor specific vaccine information as it relates to urgent care, hospital, and doctor’s office visits.