Low grade fever after flu shot

I usually get a flu shot in early fall and rarely had a reaction in the past other than some soreness at the injection site (upper arm). I got the shot last Thusday at my doctors and just tonight having muscle aches, headache and a slight fever --99.8 (o) and 100.6 (r). Woke up feeling a little like the flu Itself. This is supposed to run its course in a day or two. (I hope). Just wondering if anyone else had or having a similar experience?

I got my flu shot about two weeks ago, and they warned me that I might have flu-like symptoms for a day or so. But they also added that I might not get them right away, and that the symptoms might not show-up for a week or so. Which is exactly what happened to me.

Got my Flu shot at the VA, I'm a Veteran. No problems, no fever, not even arm soreness.

I usually have some arm soreness, but little else. I went without getting a flu shot for many years, and never caught the flu. One year I not only caught it, but got was out of work for two weeks. Any minor discomfort or fever from the vaccine is worth it.

For me it's just arm soreness, though I haven't always been diligent about getting the flu shot. This year it coincided with a mild fever, but I don't think the two were related in any way. Day later and it was gone.

Yes, I had a slight fever a few days after getting the flu shot.

Same signs and symptoms for me Vicky! Staying hydrated, exercising. L. arm in normal ROM, and aceto/ibupro. prn.

Got the shot Tuesday...

Not sure if these effects are consequential or coincidental though....Hmmm....

The Flu vaccine, which comes in the form of a shot or a nasal spray, can reduce your chances of getting the flu by as much as 60 percent.

The shot is usually recommended for everyone 6 months of age or older. Anyone at risk for developing serious complications from the flu should also receive the flu shot, including pregnant women, people over 65, and individuals with chronic diseases and their caregivers. The shot is not recommended for people who have allergies to chicken eggs or people who have had an allergic reaction to the shot in the past.

The most common side effects of the shot happen in the place where the shot was given. After the shot is administered, soreness, redness, warmth, and in some cases, a slight swelling can occur. Soreness at the injection site is the most common side effect. This pain and soreness usually lasts less than two days.

Sometimes you might experience some achiness and pain in the muscles throughout your body after the shot. Like the pain at the injection site, this usually happens on the first day and goes away within one to two days. Taking pain relievers can help alleviate some of the pain.

Headaches, and in some cases dizziness or fainting, can be a side effect of both the shot and the nasal spray. This is considered a mild side effect, and it should not last longer than a day or two. If you are prone to fainting or dizziness with shots, be sure to inform your healthcare provider.

A fever of 101 degrees ( 38.3C) or less is a common side effect of both the shot and the nasal spray. A slight fever is considered a mild side effect, and it should go away within a day or two. A high fever (over 101 degrees) is not common, and you should call your doctor or seek medical attention if you are concerned.

The nasal spray can cause a few side effects that the shot does not. This is because of where the nasal spray is administered. Some people who receive the nasal spray experience a runny nose and sore throat afterwards.

Rarely, the flu vaccine can cause severe allergic reactions. The signs of a severe allergic reaction include hives, swelling, trouble breathing, an accelerated heartbeat, changes in behavior, dizziness, and weakness. Severe allergic reactions usually happen within a few hours of receiving the vaccine. If you experience any of these side effects, seek medical help immediately.

In extremely rare cases, some types of flu vaccines can cause Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). This is a neurologic condition that causes weakness and paralysis throughout your body. This condition requires immediate hospitalization. Patients usually recover within a short amount of time. Some patients may even need to be intubated and ventilated.

As with all medications there is always the possibility of side effects and so each and every individual can react differently or not or exhibit varying degrees.

According to the National Center for Disease Control, last year's flu vaccine was only partly effective. One media report said 20%. Could that be accurate? If so, flu shots aren't what they're advertised? What do health pros say here?

Vicki.V I think the actual effectiveness was about 23% for the 2014-15 Flu season. How well the flu vaccine works (or its ability to prevent flu illness) can range widely from season to season. The vaccine’s effectiveness also can vary depending on who is being vaccinated.

At least two factors play an important role in determining the likelihood that flu vaccine will protect a person from flu illness:

1) characteristics of the person being vaccinated (such as their age and health)

2) the similarity or "match" between the flu viruses the flu vaccine is designed to protect against and the flu viruses spreading in the community

Seasonal flu vaccines are designed to protect against infection and illness caused by the flu viruses research indicates will be most common during the flu season. While the flu vaccine is the single best way to prevent the flu, protection can vary widely depending on who is being vaccinated (in addition to how well matched the flu vaccine is with circulating viruses). In general, the flu vaccine works best among healthy adults and older children. Some older people and people with certain chronic illnesses might develop less immunity than healthy children and adults after vaccination. However, even for these people, the flu vaccine still may provide some protection.

So Vicki V during the 2014-15 Flu season the flu vaccine was not well matched with circulating viruses you have to remember unlike other vaccines, the flu vaccine is often updated each season to protect against what researchers believe will be the dominant strains of the flu that year. Predictions are based on world-wide monitoring of viruses. While predictions are generally accurate, they aren't foolproof. The effectiveness of the flu vaccine in a given year depends on their accuracy.

Unfortunately, getting the flu vaccine isn’t a guarantee that you won’t get the flu, but it is thought to provide at least partial immunity. If you catch the flu despite getting the vaccine, your symptoms may be milder.

Finally the flu vaccine does not protect against cold viruses. Some people believe that the flu shot doesn’t work because they get sick despite being vaccinated. But in most of these cases, experts say, the flu vaccine did work -- it’s just that these people came down with an unrelated cold virus.There are many other viruses besides flu viruses that can result in flu-like illness* (also known as influenza-like illness or "ILI" ) that spread during the flu season. These non-flu viruses include rhinovirus (one cause of the "common cold" ) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

My friend and I usually go to the doctors together. We see the same one. Plus, I am hard of hearing and I am also her caregiver. She's my ears and I remember things she does not (she's very disabled). One of the last times we were there, our doctor walked in, took care of her, then said "Flu shot? Yes." Then she looked at me and said "Flu shot." along with a look that meant business and that neither one of us had a choice in the matter at all. So, we both got a flu shot and my friend got an additional shot in the butt (Rocephen). She gets those a lot. Neither one of us had any problems with the shot, except for a lump and a bit of an itchy sore spot that took a few days to go away.

The following is from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in regards to getting the flu shot if you have MS.

Should you get a flu shot?

Learn whether doctors recommend these seasonal vaccinations for people with MS. by Karen Appold Cold and flu season will be here before you know it. But if you’re like many people with multiple sclerosis, you may wonder if getting a flu shot is safe for you. After all, if you have MS, your immune system has already gone a bit awry—mistakenly identifying healthy cells and tissues within the central nervous system as invaders, and causing inflammation and lesions. Will vaccinations further affect your immune system? The answer is yes, but in a good way. Vaccination helps support your immune system, and reduces the risk of getting the flu by 50 to 60 percent in the general population. And as long as you get the injectable form, “the flu vaccine does not cause exacerbations or progression of MS,” says Dr. Lawrence Samkoff, associate professor of neurology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York. In fact, the injectable flu vaccine has been studied extensively in people with MS and is considered quite safe, according to a 2002 paper published by the American Academy of Neurology. Flee from the flu Without vaccination, the flu (officially known as influenza) can cause its own damage. “When people with MS get influenza, their symptoms—particularly muscle weakness and spasms, imbalance, vision disturbances, tingling or burning pain in the arms and legs, and difficulty thinking—can become worse because injured nerves don’t function as well during an infection,” explains Dr. Samkoff. Such a relapse (also called an exacerbation) can be very debilitating. Therefore, physicians typically advise people affected by MS to get the flu vaccine. Even if an individual’s MS isn’t exacerbated by a bout of influenza, it is still not an infection to take lightly. “This upper respiratory infection can become quite severe,” Dr. Samkoff says. Other complications are possible; these can include pneumonia, dehydration and low blood pressure. In worst-case scenarios, these complications could do further damage to your heart, lungs and kidneys, which could result in death.

Vaccination vagaries

Many people have heard anecdotes about people who get flu shots and then get the flu anyway. That can happen, Dr. Samkoff says, because the vaccine’s ability to prevent the flu ranges widely from season to season and from person to person. A person’s age and level of health play a role, as does the similarity or “match” between the particular strains of flu the vaccine is designed to protect against and the strains that spread in a community. In most instances, if a vaccinated person does show symptoms of the flu, it’s a short-term reaction, typically lasting 24 to 48 hours, says Dr. Samkoff. Dr. Jonathan Howard, assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry at NYU Langone Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center in New York City, points out that this is only a temporary inflammatory reaction that can mimic the flu, and is not the flu itself. “Down the line,” Dr. Samkoff adds, “even if you do still get the flu, the flu vaccine may reduce the severity of your symptoms.” Ashley Ringstaff, 27, of Leander, Texas, who was diagnosed with MS in 2010, says she discussed the pros and cons of getting the flu vaccine with her neurologist. “We decided that it would be better to receive the flu shot—which could give me flu-like symptoms for a short time—rather than take a chance by not receiving the flu shot and then later catch the full-blown flu,” Ringstaff recalls. As cautioned, after getting the flu shot she experienced body aches and weakness—but quickly recovered. Other than this, Dr. Samkoff says, there simply aren’t any other downsides to getting the flu shot for most people with MS. The only other exception concerns people with MS who are experiencing (or who have recently experienced) a serious relapse and have been treated with steroid medications. This group should not receive the flu vaccine until four to six weeks after the relapse started. “This is because the steroids suppress the immune system’s normal response to vaccination,” Dr. Samkoff explains. Some disease-modifying treatments (notably the interferons) can cause temporary flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue and achiness within six to 12 hours after an injection. The flu vaccine can also cause a mild fever, which will also produce achiness and may make some MS symptoms temporarily feel worse. However, there is no danger in having the flu vaccine when taking interferons or Copaxone® (or its generic form, Glatopa™). With some of the newer disease-modifying treatments (DMTs), such as Aubagio®, Gilenya® and Tecfidera®, the flu vaccine may not be as effective. And with Lemtrada™, vaccinations should be given six weeks prior to the start of treatment. Some types of vaccines for other illnesses should not be used with some of the DMTs. Therefore,it is of great importance to discuss vaccinations with your MS provider. In addition, if you are having or have recently experienced a relapse, be sure to discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with your healthcare provider. Vaccine wanted—dead, not alive It’s important to know that there’s more than one type of flu vaccination. However, only one kind—the injectable kind, which contains a killed virus—has been studied and found to be safe for people with MS. In addition, it does not interact with any MS DMTs or with other medications used to control MS symptoms, Dr. Samkoff says. The other type, known by the brand name FluMist®, is a nasal spray that contains a weakened but not completely inactivated virus. There may be a risk of sparking an exacerbation of your MS if you get this live virus vaccine. The bottom line? For most people with MS, getting a flu shot can help you stay healthy, and keep the risk of infection at bay, though it’s something you should always discuss with your healthcare provider. “I was scared to not get the flu shot, because there was no telling what could happen to me if I got the flu,” Ringstaff says. “So it was an easy decision to make.” - See more at: http://momentummagazineonline.com/should-you-get-a-flu-shot/#sthash.3X7nQQOn.dpuf

Never had a flu shot

I've been involved in healthcare my entire adult life and have never missed my annual flu shot. I've also never had a bona fide case of influenza but have seen plenty of them. It's true that some recipients of the flu vaccine may get a low grade fever and some myalgias within 24 hours of the shot. More serious reactions are very, very rare. I'd say that's a small price to pay to avoid an illness that is accurately described by many sufferers as "like being hit by a freight train" and may well be fatal to compromised hosts.

Got my flu shot this year and never ad any fever that I noticed after, Not sure I have ever had any problems after flu shot that I can remember over the years.

I did develop a slightly elevated temperature after my flu shot this year. Night time temp was in the high 99's where I'm usually closer to 98.0 rectal at night before bed. Not sure if it was because of the flu shot or not.

Some years ago I had a flu shot. A week or two later, was in bed with a 104F temperature. Double Pneumonia. Related/consequence of the shot? Not sure, but I have my suspicions. No low grade fever there! But usually most of my flu shots(arm) only caused mild discomfort and a "warm feeling", easily remedied by some ibuprofen and rest.

The CDC recommends that everyone over six months old gets their flu shot, especially people at higher risk like the elderly, children under two years old, people who are pregnant and anyone with chronic conditions. The only people who shouldn't get a flu shot are babies under six months of age and people with severe, life-threatening allergies to any ingredients in the flu shot.

I did develop a slightly elevated temperature after my flu shot this year. Night time temp was in the high 99's where I'm usually closer to 98.0 rectal at night before bed. Not sure if it was because of the flu shot or not.

Even a vaccine is a "challenge" or "attack" to activate the immune system. Having a fever or other bodily signs or symptoms is not at all unusual.

MANY vaccines can cause the effects you mention.

Wife and I got our high-dose flue shots a month ago - only reactions were sore shoulders. I could not sleep on mine for two nights, she just one night, but that was it, just a local reaction. Hoping the flue shot will activate my immune system to better fight off any possible exposure to the virus we all fear. I need all the help I can get having low (50K) platelets along with slight neutropenia, lukeopenia, and COPD..

Never had a reaction to the flu shot - not even a sore arm. Lucky, I guess.

Never had a reaction to a flu shot.