I Got My Flu Shot and Here’s What Happened

On Tuesday, September 8, after coming back to Niagara Falls from visiting my daughter in Jeanette, PA to celebrate my Granddaughter Jenesis' 1st birthday, I walked into the Rite Aid Pharmacy on Pine Ave. and noticed that the Flu Shot for this year was available.  I get the Flu Shot every year, but this year things are a bit different because there's a virus looming that no one can figure out, for the most part, in terms of a vaccine or cure.  So taking that into account, knowing that there will probably be a second vaccine eventually, relative to  COVID-19, I needed to ask the Pharmacist some questions.

I wanted to feel comfortable getting this year's Flu Shot so I asked the Pharmacist if he had taken the Flu Shot yet.  Not only did he tell me that he did get this year's  Flu Shot, but he also added that it's more important this year than ever because of the fact that COVID-19 exists, and if you contract the flu, your more susceptible to COVID-19 because the coronavirus will wean your immune system significantly.  He then asked me if I had received the Flu Shot in the past and if I had any adverse reactions from it if I did.  I told him that I get the shot each year and have never experienced any side effects.  He told me I'd be ok then. So I went ahead with getting the shot.

It's now two days later and can you offer a guess as to what has happened since I've gotten this year's Flu Shot?  If you've answered 'nothing', you'd be 100% correct.  There has not been a single thing that has happened where I've felt any different than I did upon walking into the pharmacy on Tuesday.

I've done this post purposely to send a message that there is no danger to you by receiving this year's Flu Shot.  Will you feel any side effects or get sick if you take the Flu Shot?  The answer is 'possibly' ... and here's what the side effects could be.  Compare these side effects (according to facty.com) to alternatively not getting the flu which could ultimately lead to some tragic consequences if you contract the flu.

1. Mild Fever
2. Muscle Aches
3. Redness or swelling in your arm where you received the shot
4. You shouldn't get the flu.

There you have it.  Those are the side effects you may experience. However, dealing with those possibilities as opposed to getting the full-fledged flu is uncomparable.

The article on the facty.com website says this about the flu vaccine:

There is a lot of misinformation about the influenza vaccine. There aren't any active viruses in the shot, so there's no way you can get the flu from the jab. This misconception probably comes from the fact that most people get the flu shot during flu season; an individual may have already contracted the infection before administration of the vaccine.

Now regarding the eventual vaccine for COVID-19.  I want to address the well known and understandable fact that Black and Hispanic people have always been skeptical of allowing themselves to receive anything that will go into their bodies which the government has authorized ...side from food the FDA approves.  The Tuskegee experiment is the best example as to why Black people are skeptical of the government's advisement regarding getting vaccination shots.  Click the link below to learn more about the Tuskegee Experiment.

Black persons who may be skeptical about a COVID-19 vaccine may find comfort in knowing that the Lead Scientist for the National Institute of Health's coronavirus vaccine research is a Black woman ... Kizzmekia Corbett

Here's a link to where you can get a Flu Shot close to you: