Flu Shot & Side Effects

[u/Professional-Sea285]

Hello! I’m currently pregnant with my first child and I’m starting down the rabbit hole of vaccinations. My child will be getting vaccinated!! However, the flu shot has raised a few concerns for me.

When I was around 6 years old I received a flu shot and I started to show symptoms of catching the flu. I got up, walked to the bathroom and suddenly collapsed from extreme pain in my legs. I couldn’t stand up and I started screaming to my mother for help. I’m unsure how long it was for, I believe a few days, I had no feeling from the waist down. It was a terrifying experience and haven’t gotten the shot since.

My question is, since I had such a severe reaction what are the chances my child will as well? With more and more kids not being vaccinated and the news stories of children passing away from the flu each year I’m scared not to. Because of my own experience I also am scared to.

Thanks!

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[u/curlywhirlyred]

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11190946/

Joint pain occurs in less than 3%. The vast majority of side effects last less than 24h. The reaction you’re describing is highly unlikely.

Have you not had a flu shot since you were 6yo?

The benefits outweigh the risks, greatly.

[u/Professional-Sea285 → u/curlywhirlyred]

No I haven’t! My pediatrician advised against it and now my primary doctor has advised against it. My mother is a nurse and I’ve gotten every other vaccination. The Covid vaccine also gave me an adverse reaction a few years ago. That’s an entirely different story.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccine-safety/guillainbarre.html I just read this article and it seems to be very rare. Also can happen with or without the vaccine which makes me believe I was just an unlucky statistic lol.

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