Will a flu shot give you the flu? Here’s what Beaufort County healthcare providers say

You can’t get the flu from getting a flu shot.

While many people claim to have come down with the virus after getting vaccinated, there is simply no way for it to happen according to Holly Mlodzinski, health promotions coordinator at Hilton Head Regional Healthcare.

“It is not a live virus, so sometimes people notice symptoms after getting a flu shot. They might have some soreness in their arms and some aches and pains,” said Mlodzinski. “Then it takes seven to 14 days for the flu shot to become effective once it has been administered, so there’s always the potential that someone could get a cold or a virus in that time, but it wouldn’t be related to the shot.”

According to Brandon McElroy, internal medicine specialist with Beaufort Memorial Lady’s Island Internal Medicine, there is zero chance that the dead form of the virus could reactivate and cause illness. Even in a nonliving state, though, it his helping your body in a valuable way, by giving your immune system practice in case it encounters a live form of the virus.

“If you think of the whole body of the virus, we chop off the virus’ arm,” said McElroy. “And that arm is really enough for your immune system to be able to recognize the virus and attack it before it causes symptomatic infection.”

Once contracted, the flu can be especially punishing for people with chronic health conditions, like heart disease and diabetes, Mlodzinski said. Still, regardless of your health, it is recommended that you get vaccinated, especially as cases of the flu have been high in South Carolina.

“We recommend that everyone get a flu shot,” said Mlodzinski.

Each person reacts to the flu virus differently according to Mlodzinski, but it can cause respiratory symptoms and pneumonia.

“You’re going to have extreme body aches, you’ll have a high temperature all of a sudden,” said Mary Scott, corporate director of quality and infection control with Beaufort Memorial Hospital, who stressed the flu’s difference from the common cold, which does not bring on the type of fever the flu can carry with it, which can reach 103 or 104 degrees.

Stomach symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea that are associated with the flu are not actually caused by it, Mlodzinski said.

The number of flu-related deaths varies wildly each year according to CDC estimates, with roughly 12,000 reported in 2012-2013 and around 56,000 reported only a year later in 2012-2013.

Locally, Scott says the number of confirmed flu cases the hospital has had to deal with is about on par with the last two years, and far lower than it was three years ago.

“This time three years ago we had 141 positive cases in a week,” said Scott. “Last week we had 11 positive.”

Beyond the benefit for yourself, getting vaccinated helps protect others as well.

“Most of the principles of vaccination are based on herd immunity, where we try to reduce the incidents of infection overall in a community to protect those that are at highest risk of complications,” said McElroy. “Specifically the very young and very old, and also those who can not or did not get a vaccine who would be at higher risk of complications.”

Besides getting vaccinated, Scott recommends preventative measures such as coughing into your elbow, and most importantly washing your hands.

“Washing your hands prior to eating, after you’ve coughed, after you’ve blown your nose after using the restroom, its very important,” said Scott. “The number one way we transmit any infection is through our hands.”

If you haven’t been vaccinated and looking to be, several pharmacies around Beaufort County administer flu shots. You can also get one at one of two flu shot clinics being held by Hilton Head Regional Healthcare on Thursday, Dec. 14.

The first, being held from 9 to 11 a.m., will be held at Hilton Head Hospital. A second clinic will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at Bluffton Medical Campus at 75 Baylor Drive.

Vaccinations will be $35, and private insurance is not accepted, though Medicare will be. You must be 18 or older to get a flu shot.

This story was originally published December 9, 2017 at 9:54 AM with the headline "Will a flu shot give you the flu? Here’s what Beaufort County healthcare providers say."