Getting an annual flu shot can be stressful. If needles make you nervous, you’re not alone. While needle anxiety is very common, understanding your reaction can help you manage it. It’s also important to remember that your healthcare team has ways to make the experience calm and predictable.
A flu shot is the best way to prevent the flu
Anyone can get the flu. It can cause serious complications, particularly in infants, young children, and adults age 65 and older. If you’re pregnant or have a medical condition, such as heart disease, the flu can make it worse. Influenza infection can also trigger asthma attacks in people with asthma.
Although not 100 percent effective, a flu shot can keep you from getting infected, make the flu less severe if you get it, and keep you from spreading it to your family and others.
What is the flu?
Influenza (the flu) is a common respiratory infection that circulates around the world each year and usually hits the United States between October and May. The viruses that cause the flu are most often spread by coughing, sneezing, or close contact.
The flu tends to strike suddenly and can last for several days. Although it has some of the same symptoms as the common cold, including a runny or stuffy nose, cough, sore throat, and fatigue, the flu can lead to pneumonia, blood infections, or even death. Other symptoms include fever, body aches, headache, and chills.
Who needs an annual flu shot?
With rare exceptions, everyone six months of age and older should get a flu vaccine each year. The vaccine is usually given as a shot in the arm but is available as a nasal spray for some patients.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves different influenza vaccines for different age groups. Children between six months and eight years of age may need two doses of the vaccine, while adults age 65 and older may need a high-dose vaccination.
Is the flu shot safe for everyone?
If you have concerns about getting a flu shot, ask your doctor or pharmacist if it’s right for you.
While almost everyone six months of age and older should get vaccinated, there are a few exceptions:
- Children younger than six months of age are too young to get a flu shot.
- If you have a severe allergy to the vaccine or to eggs, gelatin, antibiotics, or other ingredients in the vaccine, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
- You may not be able to get a flu shot if you have a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare autoimmune disorder.
Finally, if you’re under the weather, it’s often best to wait to get a flu shot until you’re feeling better.
Why do you need a flu shot every year?
Flu viruses evolve quickly. Manufacturers release new flu vaccines every year to protect against the three or four influenza viruses that researchers expect to to circulate during the upcoming season. It’s impossible to predict influenza viruses with 100 percent certainty, so the effectiveness of the flu vaccine varies from year to year.
In recent years, when the flu vaccine matches the viruses that are circulating, vaccination can reduce flu risk by up to 60 percent. Sometimes it’s less effective, sometimes more. In past years, the vaccine has been up to 90 percent effective at preventing the flu.
A flu shot can’t give you the flu
Contrary to what you may have heard, you can’t get the flu from a flu shot. Some flu vaccines contain no flu viruses at all, while others are made with inactivated viruses that can’t spread infections. However, there are a number of reasons why you might not feel well after getting a flu shot:
- Side effects of a flu shot can include soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site. Also, as your body produces protective antibodies, you may experience a low-grade fever, headache, or muscle aches.
- It can take up to two weeks for the flu shot to become fully effective. If you were exposed to a flu virus right before you got vaccinated, or during the time it takes your body to develop full protection, you could catch the flu before the vaccine starts to work.
- Different flu viruses circulate each year. You could get sick if you’re exposed to a virus that’s not included in the seasonal flu vaccine.
- Health factors and age can affect how well a flu shot works. Some people can catch the flu despite being vaccinated. Flu vaccine is most effective for older children and adults under the age of 65. Some older people and those with certain chronic illnesses may develop less immunity after getting a flu shot. But if you catch the flu, the vaccine offers some protection. Your illness is likely to be milder, and you’re less likely to be hospitalized.
- Other illnesses can produce flu-like symptoms. It can be hard to tell the difference between the common cold and the flu.
What to do if needles make you nervous
It’s common to be nervous before getting a shot, but don’t let it prevent you from keeping up with important vaccines. Here are some tips to reduce the stress of injections:
Bring a support person. It may help to bring a friend or partner for support. Having someone familiar beside you makes the experience feel easier.
Tell your pharmacist you’re nervous. Your pharmacist can talk you through each step and give you as much time as you need.
Practice relaxation techniques. Try some deep breathing exercises in the waiting room to calm down. Take slow, deep breaths and try to free your mind from anxious thoughts.
Keep your arm relaxed. Tense muscles make injections feel more uncomfortable, so let your shoulder drop and your arm hang loose.
Bring a distraction. Listen to calming music or a favorite podcast on your phone. A stress ball can help too.
Ask to get your shot in private. Some pharmacies can arrange a private consultation room for your vaccination.
Requesting a full explanation before each step can help you feel more in control. If you want to see the vaccine vial beforehand (or keep it out of sight), just say so. And if you have sensory sensitivities or communication preferences, tell your healthcare team.
Lower your risk of getting the flu
While a flu shot isn’t perfect, it’s your best defense against the flu. Of course, there are other steps you can take to stop viruses from spreading and avoid getting sick:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. (If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.)
- Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Avoid crowds during the height of the flu season.
- Stay home from work or school if you get sick.
Living a healthy lifestyle can also help keep you at the top of your game. Eat a healthy diet. Find ways to stay active. Get plenty of sleep. And adopt healthy habits for managing stress.