Flu season has officially arrived, with sniffles starting to circulate through offices, schools and friendship groups. Yet despite the annual push to get vaccinated, questions and misconceptions still linger.
Everything from whether the flu shot can actually make you sick to whether healthy people really need one at all, there is uncertainty around it.
To separate fact from fiction, we asked TerryWhite Chemmart pharmacist Michael Thorp to answer the most common questions around the flu vaccination, including why you need a new jab every year and what those post-vaccine side effects really mean.
Why do some people report feeling sick after receiving the flu vaccination, and can it actually give you the flu?
This is one of the most common concerns we hear, but the short answer is a reassuring no – the flu vaccination cannot give you the flu.
This is because the virus used in the shot is inactive.
What you’re experiencing in the hours following your appointment is actually your immune system practising how to recognise and fight the virus.
While this immune response can sometimes result in a slightly sore arm, mild headache or short-lived feeling of being under the weather, these are not symptoms of influenza itself.
Instead, think of them as a positive signs that your body is busy doing the work – responding to the vaccine and building that vital, protective shield for the season ahead.
I very rarely get sick, is it worth getting vaccinated?
Definitely.
Staying healthy is about being proactive rather than reactive.
While things like diet, exercise, sleep and hydration are the cornerstone of good health, the vaccination is a vital extra shield.
Even if you’re fit and active, the flu can knock you around for a week or more, leading to missed work or cancelled plans.
By protecting yourself, you’re also protecting the people you interact with who might not be as resilient, like elderly neighbours, newborns and young children, or colleagues with underlying health issues.
Why do I need a new flu vaccination every year?
Unfortunately, the flu is a bit of a shapeshifter.
The dominant strains change from year to year, so the vaccine is updated annually to match the most current versions of the virus.
Think of it like a software update for your immune system – you need this year’s version to protect against this year’s germs.
Plus, your immunity naturally wanes over time, so that annual booster ensures your protection is at its peak just as the winter chill settles in.
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