Is flu vaccination safe

Answer 1

The annual flu vaccine is safe, as safe as vaccinations for any other illness, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Studies prior to the US approval of new vaccines are done by the manufacturers and by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with monitoring by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and even the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during the Swine Flu pandemic. All these entities approved the vaccines as safe and effective for use as directed.

The flu vaccine is being produced just like it has been for decades and has a very high safety record.

Unless you are allergic to eggs* [see more about egg Allergies and flu shots below], latex, previous vaccines or prior flu shots, you should be safer taking the vaccine than risking the flu without it, especially if you are in any of the high risk groups or if you live with or care for any of those who are (especially infants under six months old). For a list of those considered in the high risk groups see the related questions section below.

If you are pregnant or immunocompromised you should not use the nasal mist vaccines, but you can and should get the flu shots made with inactive virions as opposed to live attenuated virus vaccines. Infants under 6 months old can not get immunized by vaccination because their immune systems are still too immature. Breast feeding is the only method of protection in neonates, who can get antibodies in the milk from their mothers but not vaccines. Having everyone who lives with or cares for an infant vaccinated will help prevent the spread of infection to the babies, too.

There are some rumors and people expressing concern about the preservative (thimerosal) in these vaccines, but again, this is not a new component in the flu vaccines, and if you have had no problem with prior seasonal flu shots, you should be still unlikely to have problems since the vaccines are the same from year to year except for the changes in the specific viruses in the vaccine. For a full list of the ingredients in the flu vaccines, see the related questions below.

The concerns that are expressed about the thimerosal is that it contains Mercury. To put this into proper perspective, there is a minuscule amount of mercury in the thimerosal compound, but it is about the same amount of mercury you might get in a fish**sandwich. There is no scientific evidence that mercury in this amount is harmful, or that link it to any diseases or problems (including Autism, which is something that some have expressed concern about).

*Note:

Egg allergies may not prevent you from being able to get a flu vaccination any more. See the related questions below for more detail on that subject.

**Note: Fish that contain lower amounts of mercury include catfish. It has been determined that for the amount of mercury in catfish to pose any potential danger, these hypothetical health risks from the mercury in catfish would only begin at a weekly intake of 342.8 ounces (21.4 pounds) of the fish. This should serve to demonstrate the insignificance of the mercury from a flu shot. Scientific studies have proven no connection between thimerosal and untoward health consequences from vaccine use.

In the end, if you are considering getting a vaccination, the question you should ask is, "Am I safer vaccinated, or not vaccinated?" Around 36,000 people die from the flu each year in the US. Ask your doctor or a nurse if you need help to decide what is the greater risk.

See the related questions for more information.