How safe is a flu shot?

Very!!: Although side effects can occur, such as fever, soreness, occasional achiness, and theoretically very rare more serious problems, it is much safer than being infected with the potential side effects of the infection, up to and including death! immunize, immunize, immunize.

Very safe: If it weren't extremely safe, we wouldn't recommend that everyone get one.

Rare serious effects: Flu shots rarely cause very serious side effects including death and (more commonly) Guillain-Barre Syndrome (paralysis). The flu can also cause death but it hasn't been proven that flu shots reduce death in adults (there is evidence it can in children). See http://tinyurl.com/y6uqs786 for good info on incidence of side effects, also http://tinyurl.com/y7wwq842 and http://tinyurl.com/y8bufvlr

Protective: The flu shot is a protective immunization against the flu. You get a light exposure to several different strains of flu so that your immune system is "prepared" if you actually come in contact with the flu. You can still get the flu, but if your immune system is already prepared you will typically not get as sick as you could have. I have had the flu shot for 30 years and I've done great!