Can you get the flu twice?

Answer 1

Catching Flu Twice in a SeasonYes, you can. But, it would have to be a different strain or type of the influenza-virus than you previously had (if you are otherwise healthy and have a well-functioning immune system). You would need to be exposed to a different flu virus to get it a second time because your body will have created antibodies to destroy that particular flu virus the first time you had it, and a second exposure that soon should not be able to reinfect you for that reason. There is some eventual loss of protection over the long term possible but not within the same season.

Even after receiving the flu vaccine you can get the flu if you are exposed to a different type of flu virus than was in the vaccine, if your immune system is not functioning properly, or if you are exposed before the vaccine was able to create the proper antibodies from the vaccination (usually 2 weeks after the vaccination in most adults and longer in children - up to a month) . The flu vaccine is made with the viral particles of the top 3 flu virus strains that are expected to be circulating in that upcoming season for which the vaccine was developed. US CDC scientists determine each year what viruses should be in the following year's vaccine based on what viruses are circulating in Asia, since these will be moving west toward the US during the flu season. There are many strains, if the scientists do not predict the correct ones, you may still become ill despite a vaccination.

You CANNOT get the flu from the flu vaccines. The viruses in the vaccines are killed (inactivated) or weakened, so you cannot get the flu from a flu vaccination. You can check out the NIH's website for more info.

Answer 2

If you are exposed to an identical version of the flu that you had previously after you have recovered fully from it the first time, then your body should have developed immunity to all genetically identical kinds of flu and you would not get it a second time. However, the flu can change by mutations and if it does change enough that the immune system no longer sees it as identical, then you would not have immunity to the mutated strain. This is a similar concept to why we need different seasonal flu vaccine every year and why there are no vaccines for the common cold.

You can get the flu twice in one season, but it would not be the same flu virus.

Answer 3

N.O

CAUSE THE ANTIGEN( THE CAUSE OF THE DISEASE( VIRUS OR BACTERIA)) STAYS ON YOUR BODY AND FIGHTS THE GERMS WHEN IT COMES BACK

OR-- IT MAKES MEMORY CELLS TO MAKE MEMORIES ABOUT THE INVADER

AND MAKE ANTIBODIES

Answer 4

The FLU constantly mutates into different strains. It is possible to get the flu more than once in any given year and even though the immune system has built immunity to one strain, it is possible to catch another.

Answer 5

It depends on the situation. It also will depend on the strain. If you're introduced to a new strain, it is highly possible that you would contract it. If you have the same strain, then I don't think it would be.

Answer 6

Yes, the thing with influenza is that it is a negatively stranded RNA virus that does not contain an proofreading region in it's RNA polymerase. Therefore, it mutates very rapidly, which is why you have to get a flu vaccination every year as the strains are constantly changing.

Answer 7

Well I'm the proof that you can! I've been sick with the flu again after I've just recovered from it 3 weeks prior to that.

It would usually be a different type of flu the second time, though.

Answer 8

Yes. That is because there are different types of the flu. And on top of that there are hundreds of sub flu types.

Answer 9

Yes right, but flu shot can be help to reduce spreading more in your circle.

Answer 10

Yes, it's possible.