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Can You Still Get the Flu Shot If You're Sick
Activities such as raking leaves, painting pumpkins, setting clocks back an hour, including getting a flu vaccination are seasonal staples that fall brings. The last action could be the most crucial one you take this season. The flu season in the northern hemisphere typically lasts from October to May. Because flu activity is highest between December and February, experts advise being vaccinated as early in the season as possible.
Dec 09, 2022 By Madison Evans

Protect themselves against influenza A or B by getting vaccinated. Seasonal influenza viruses are of this kind. However, if you become ill before your scheduled visit, you should inquire about rescheduling the injection with your doctor. You may still be vaccinated against the flu even if you have a mild disease like a cold. If you're feeling worse or are experiencing a fever, your doctor may advise you to hold off on treatment. This article discusses when it is best to receive the flu vaccination, why specific individuals should avoid it, and the possible risks of having a flu shot if already ill.

Why Is Delay In Getting A Flu Shot?

Most persons experiencing just mild to moderate cold or flu symptoms may still get the vaccine. Dr. Tochi Iroku-Malize, the senior family doctor on Staten Island, New York, and even a board member of those in Physicians warns that "those who have a moderate through severe sickness regardless of whether they have fever may be required to stand in line until they recover" before being vaccinated. Visitors don't want to overstimulate the immune system when it's already working hard to fight off whatever ails you. An organism might not always be able to produce enough of the body's immune system for a new infection, such as the flu, if it is currently fighting off another sickness. Therefore, the vaccination may not work as effectively as if you were healthy.

Can You Get A Flu Shot If You Have The Flu?

Illness severity should be taken into account. First, some necessary background: This year's flu season started early in the United States. So far, the virus has been responsible for the vast majority of 880,000 illnesses and 6,900 hospitalizations, including 360 fatalities. This information comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those are some rather bizarre statistics. Flu activity has already been high in several states, and there haven't been any other flu-related hospitalizations this early in the tournament in the United States in over a decade.

This means that you should schedule your flu vaccination early and let the presence of minor cold symptoms prevent you from doing so. Internal medicine doctor somewhere at Cleveland Clinic, Cory Fisher, DO, tells SELF that "it is usually regarded to be acceptable to have most immunizations, including that of the flu shot when you experience moderate symptoms of an infection and no fever."

The Risks

Vaccines cause your immune system to react. See how it works below:

  • Thanks to the vaccination, your immune system will be "shown" the virus.
  • Antibodies, proteins that specifically target and neutralize the virus, are produced by your immune system.
  • In the future, when you are confronted with the flu virus, your immune system will be better prepared to react quickly.
  • If you respond quickly enough, you can avoid becoming ill.

Your immune system will already be busy fending off the other sickness if you're already sick when you receive the vaccination. This might suggest that it needs to devote more time and energy to creating flu antibodies while simultaneously time. Therefore, the vaccine's ability to ward against influenza may be diminished.

Who Should Not Receive The Flu Shot?

While getting a flu vaccination may seem like a good idea for some, others should not. Tell your doctor if you or your kid have any of the following conditions:

  • age less than six months
  • History of life-threatening reactions to the flu vaccination
  • Consult your doctor about the safety of the flu vaccination if you have a history of Guillain-BarrĂ© syndrome (a disorder under which the immune system destroys neurons).

Conclusion

When you get a flu vaccine when you're already unwell, your immune system has to split its attention between fighting off the virus and recovering from your illness. That reduces the vaccine's efficacy and may prolong your illness. For a bit of sickness, you should get your flu vaccination early. Before canceling or postponing your immunization, discuss your high risk for flu complications with your clinician. Those who are allergic to eggs or have had a severe response to a previous flu vaccination may not be able to get the vaccine safely. If you are unsure whether or not you should be vaccinated, it is best to see a doctor. Suppose you have a severe allergy to flu vaccination or its components, including gelatin, antibiotics, or anything else. In that case, you should not have the vaccine: everyone else, especially the most vulnerable.