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Anyone had the flu shot this year?

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Posted 10/29/2014 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
I ask because I am wondering if anyone has had a headache following and how long it lasted. Headaches produce a lot of worry in our family due to the skull mets. Two days ago, Don was fine, but had an early morning flu shot and then got a headache in about an hour. It still hasn't gone. I just wrote an article on myths about influenza vaccine and the source materials said that the headache could last "one or two days." No point in seeing the doctor as he will just say to monitor it but we are off on vacation for 16 days Tuesday. I am also speaking with the vaccine people.
Posted 10/29/2014 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Had mine yesterday morning, no problems that I've noticed.
Posted 10/29/2014 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Got one this morning. So far so good. No headache and no flu....must be working.

Seriously, this is the first year I have gotten one, but I haven't had the flu since I was a kid. Have fun on vacation.
Posted 10/29/2014 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
Had mine about a month ago. Don't remember any particular reaction to the shot.
Posted 10/29/2014 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks JNF...we never have flu shots either but this year, on balance, we decided on one for Don due to the travelling. Good news on the headache front. Don just rushed an elderly neighbour to the hospital and, when he got back, the headache seemed to have vanished. Fingers crossed!
Posted 10/29/2014 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
Had mine a week ago. No side effects at all that I could tell. I've been getting one every year for awhile now.
Posted 10/29/2014 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
I get one every year, for the past several, and have never experienced a headache.
Posted 10/29/2014 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Skeeter and Peter and A. Yooper...
Posted 10/29/2014 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
I get one every year. No SEs, other than a sore arm for 1-3 days (0 days this time).

Mel
Posted 10/29/2014 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
Got mine about 2 hours ago at the local VA Hospital in Omaha, no problems.
Posted 10/29/2014 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
Got mine about a month ago. Have been getting them for years. No reaction except the sore arm for a day or so.
Posted 10/29/2014 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
Got mine several weeks ago.  Didn't even feel the injection, no soreness afterwards, either.  Now I need the pneumonia vaccine, and I'll be getting that soon.
Posted 10/29/2014 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
I got my flu shot two weeks ago. Three days after the shot I got a cold - stuffy head, headache. Ended up taking two days off work.

Not sure if that counts as getting the flu from the flu shot but it felt like it.
Andrew
Posted 10/29/2014 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
We both had our flue shot 3 weeks ago with no SE.

Hope your hubby is feeling better soon!

BOOGEE
Posted 10/29/2014 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
I got mine a couple months ago and as I recall I felt funky the next day but not too bad. if there was a headache it was slight.

ed
Posted 10/29/2014 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
Had mine about 6 weeks ago (?). I was going to have it done for free via CVS, but when I was last at the VA Outpatient Clinic, they offered and did it for me. Other than my right arm being sore for a couple of days, no other side effects. I don't usually even get the sore arm, but my arm is so skinny from the weight loss, that might have been the reason.
Posted 10/30/2014 4:25 AM (GMT 0)
I would think it was another bug Andrew, although it could have been side effects from the shot...the shot can't give anyone flu as the viruses are disabled. Thanks everyone for your responses. Don no longer has a headache. Whew.
Posted 10/30/2014 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
Come to think of it I do have one coworker who reported mildly-flulike symptoms after his shot. Could be a coincidence -- he got the shot as he was in the process of coming down with a cold -- but I suppose it is a datapoint in the result to your question.
Posted 10/30/2014 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Last week...no SE.
Posted 10/30/2014 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
Just had one this morning. Super dose for seniors, no side effects.
Posted 11/2/2014 6:25 AM (GMT 0)
If you are on steroids or steroid injections (Prednisone, dexamethasone, etc) then you shouldn't get the flu shot.

The flu vaccine that is injection is not a live vaccine (nasal spray is attenuated) so you can't actually get the flu from it at all, not like in years past.

I highly recommend the flu vaccines yearly, the pneumonia shot as well as the shingles vaccine if over 50. Its approved for over 50, but CDC doesn't recommend it until age 60 btw.

A lot of times people come in and are exposed to ill patients when getting the shot, and attribute that to the vaccine.

If you have a weakened immune system then definitely discuss with your doctor before receiving any vaccines and read those info sheets they hand out!
Posted 11/2/2014 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
Good advice, thanks. I have had the shingle vaccine...also had the shingles before...so hopefully I am now double covered. Hadn't yet considered the pneumonia vaccine.

How is Paul today?
Posted 11/2/2014 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Kuku, it is my understanding that the flu vaccine/prednisone caution applies only to the live attenuated virus (nasal spray) since the virus in the injectable vaccine is deactivated. I just checked this out and am seeing the phrase to check with your doctor before having the flu shot if you are on immune-suppressing drugs (such as pred or dex). Nowhere does it say one should not have the vaccine. I've not written this in various flu brochures and what-not either, based on materials from the authorities. Is that a mistype as you mention the live attenuated vaccine as well, which is definitely a no-no. Or do you have some info that I don't? If so, I should and not just because my husband is on pred and has had a flu shot.
Posted 11/2/2014 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Jack, Paul is good. Tired but doing so much better in the last week or so despite many GI symptoms still. He has some energy to go out here and there but tires easily but its really so nice to see him slowly getting back to doing some things. He sees the cardiologist tomorrow to get results from stress test done Friday to see about heart failure, which I think has improved a little too. Still has the abdominal sinus/deep abscess and partial obstruction we need to address. His labs Friday were normal and....... Psa.... its now 0.30!! So... if we can get this Tin Man his heart back and his belly to heal, strength and endurance way up I think we may be in for a good year coming up (and hope to travel some!).

Moonlightnight- steroid therapy is considered immunosuppression and contraindicated for live flu vaccines for obv reasons. BUT Even epidural and joint injections have to be at least two weeks apart for us to administer the inactivated. The steroids reduce the body's response to the vaccination and not allow the person to produce the necessary antibodies to protect them from the flu virus so its like not even giving the injection.

Don't have time to search to pull actual research but this touches on it a little...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0010714/?report=details

and this is a great guide/reference for healthcare professionals that I keep on my desk now and also in my nurse visit room where I see patients.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/flu-hcp-info.pdf
Posted 11/2/2014 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
PS
I also don't administer the Pneumovax (or any other live vaccine) with the inactivated flu even though only the pneumonia vaccine has shown issues in children when given together. Better to be safer than sorry if you ask me. If a patient insisted, then I would only after making it clear the risks and having their full understanding.


the CDC hasn't formed an opinion on if the high dose vaccine is any better and therefore just recommends getting vaccinated period. The jury and research haven't proven that it provides any better protection yet.
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