With so many colds, flu's and viruses being spread around, it is only natural that there are vaccines to help protect us from some of them. One of the most popular vaccinations that you can get is the flu shot. Many people get scared when their hear about getting a flu shot as they are unsure of what will happen to them once they get it. They are mainly worried about the flu shot side effects that they may or may not have. This article will give you the details as to what the shot is and what the side effects are. The best thing you can do for yourself is to educate yourself on all the details of the vaccination so you can make the best informed decision on whether to get the vaccine or not.

The first thing you should know is that there are two ways to get the flu vaccine. The first is by a nasal spray. This is the one that makes many people leery as it contains the live virus. It is a weakened version of the virus and does not cause you to get the virus but instead helps your body to build immunities to the flu. This method is recommended for those between the ages of 2 years of age through 49 years of age. You must also be in good health to get the vaccine in this manner. This type of vaccine is also called the LAIV or the Flu Mist.

The side effects to getting the nasal vaccine are as follows:

In children: The nasal spray can cause children to have flu like symptoms such as runny nose, muscle aches, vomiting, fever, wheezing and headaches. This is not recommended for those that suffer with asthma or breathing problems due to the wheezing side effects.

In adults: The nasal spray can also give adults to have flu like symptoms as well but not as much as in children. Adults may find that they suffer with a headache, a cough, runny nose and a sore throat.

The other means of getting the vaccine is through the flu shot. This is an inactive of the virus. In other words the virus that is being injected into you is already dead. This is given as a shot in the arm and is approved for those as young as 6 months of age. This is also good for those who are not in the best of medical health or live with a chronic illness.

Flu shot side effects of the shot are as follows:

In both children and adults: Since the virus is not live, the side effects are very minimal. You may experience a low grade fever as well as an achy body and redness at the injection site. You will usually see these side effects within a day or two from having the vaccine. While the vaccine works well for most everyone, there are some that are allergic to the vaccine which can cause serious allergic reactions.

If you are thinking about or you know that you want to get the flu vaccine, then you will want to talk with your doctor so that you know what to expect and if it is right for you. If you opt for the injection, there are some doctors such as allergy or asthma specialists that give the flu shot right under the skin such as how a TB test is done. This allows the infection of the vaccine to gradually seep into the body making it safer for those that suffer with asthma or other serious medical conditions.

If you want to protect yourself from the flu then it is important to get the vaccine each year. This way you can be sure to do your best to keep yourself from becoming infected. It is also important to remember that this only helps to protect you from getting the flu. It does not protect you from the swine flu as this is a separate vaccine. Again, talk with your doctor and see if these vaccines are best for you and your condition. If you cannot make it to the doctor office for the vaccine then you can check the local health department or walk in clinics to see what options are available to you. They will also go over any possible flu shot side effects with you so you will know exactly to expect.