How Many Days Between Allergy Shots And Flu Shots

What About People Who Get A Seasonal Flu Vaccine And Still Get Sick With Flu Symptoms

There are several reasons why someone might get flu symptoms even after they have been vaccinated against flu.

• Someone can get sick with another respiratory virus besides flu such as rhinoviruses or SARS-CoV-2 . Other respiratory viruses can cause symptoms similar to flu, and they can also spread and cause illness during flu season. Flu vaccines only protect against flu and its complications, not other illnesses.
• Someone can be exposed to flu viruses shortly before getting vaccinated or during the two-week period after vaccination that it takes the body to develop immune protection. This exposure may result in a person becoming sick with flu before protection from vaccination takes effect.
• Flu vaccines vary in how well they work, and someone can get vaccinated but still get sick with flu. There are many different flu viruses that spread and cause illness among people, so this can happen if someone is exposed to a flu virus that is very different from the viruses in the flu vaccine. The ability of a flu vaccine to protect a person depends partially on the similarity or match between the vaccine viruses chosen to make vaccine and those spreading and causing illness. Even when that happens though, flu vaccination can still reduce severity of illness.

Flu Vaccine Safety Information

Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices United States, 2022-2023 Influenza Season has been published. Related updates to this page are forthcoming. CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older in the United States should get a flu vaccine every season with rare exception. More information about the 2022-2023 flu season is also available.

• How is the safety of flu vaccines monitored?

What Should I Do If I Have Had A Serious Reaction To Seasonal Flu Vaccine

Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when you got the flu shot.

Ask your doctor, nurse, or health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System form, or call VAERS at 1-800-822-7967. Reports are welcome from all concerned individuals: patients, parents, health care providers, pharmacists and vaccine manufacturers.

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Who Shouldn’t Get A Flu Shot

The flu vaccine is not right for everyone. You should not get a flu shot if you have:

• Fever or moderate to severe illness at the time of vaccination
• History of previous severe or life-threatening allergic reaction to a flu shot

Infants under 6 months old should also not receive the flu shot. Additionally, if you have a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome after previous flu vaccinations, talk to your healthcare provider before getting a flu shot again.

They Can Take A Few Years To Really Work

Allergy shots aren’t a quick fix. While some people may start to feel better during the build-up phase of their treatment, most people won’t experience noticeable improvement until they’ve been in the maintenance phase for six to 18 months, Dr. Dziadzio said.

In fact, a February 2017 JAMA study found that it took three full years for allergy shots for hay fever to be more effective than placebo shots. The maintenance phase for most allergy shots is usually continued for three to five years. Some patients experience long-lasting relief after that, and some may need continued treatment.

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When Is The Ideal Time To Get The Flu Vaccine

The influenza vaccine season in Colorado is variable. It has been known to occur as early as August and as late as May. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza. To ensure that as many people as possible are protected before the flu season begins, the CDC recommends that influenza vaccination begins as soon as the vaccine becomes available, even as early as August, and continues throughout the flu season. Flu activity usually peaks in January or February in the United States and can last as late as May. As long as the flu season isnt over, its not too late to get vaccinated.

Allergy Shots For Children

As early as ages 3, kids can begin to develop seasonal allergies, leaving many parentswondering what is the best treatment? We also get asked often are allergy shots safe forchildren. Yes, they are, but this is something that needs to be discussed with your allergist.Children, like adults, sometimes develop a minor reaction near the site of the injectionimmediately after the allergy shot is given. Simply applying ice to the area and administering anantihistamine can reduce the swelling.

There are rare cases where children can have a more severe reaction, including hives, itchingacross the body, or difficulty breathing. These are less common but can occur. That is why itsbest to consult with your allergy specialist to determine if an allergy shot is appropriate for yourchild.

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Getting Vaccinated And Contraindications

Q: Are there any contraindications to getting a COVID-19 vaccine?

A: According to the CDC, people who have had an immediate allergic reaction, even if it was not severe, to a vaccine or injectable therapy , should consult their physicians to determine if they should get a COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC states this is a precaution and not a contraindication.

According to the CDC, COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines may now be administered without regard to timing. This includes simultaneous administration of COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines on the same day, as well as coadministration within 14 days. Following reports of a small number of patients experiencing anaphylaxis after getting an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC issued guidance related to the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and severe allergic reactions. ACAAI also published guidance on the risk of allergic reactions to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

Patients who have an immediate or severe allergic reaction to the first dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine should not receive the second dose.

Patients who have had COVID-19 and received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent serum to treat COVID-19 should wait 90 days before getting the vaccine.

Q: What if an individual has an immediate allergic reaction to their first mRNA shot? Can the J& J vaccine be given as a booster?

Q: How many doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are needed?

A: The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines require two doses. The J& J vaccine requires one dose.

Q: Should I Receive The Covid

Yes, with veryfewexceptions. Per the CDC, contraindication to both the Pfizer/Biontech and Moderna vaccines include a history of the following:

• Severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or any of its components

• Immediate allergic reaction of any severity to a previous dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or any of its components *

• Immediate allergic reaction of any severity to polysorbate *

* These persons should not receive mRNA COVID-19 vaccination at this time unless they have been evaluated by an allergist-immunologist and it is determined that the person can safely receive the vaccine

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Should My Child Get A Flu Shot

Yes. All children over 6 months old should get a flu shot each year.

Babies and children 6 months to 9 years of age who have never had a flu shot will need 2 doses of the vaccine, given at least 4 weeks apart.

Those who have had one or more doses of the regular seasonal flu shot in the past, or children 9 years of age and older, will only need 1 dose per year.

The vaccine is especially important for children and youth who are at high risk of complications from the flu, including those who:

• are between 6 months and 5 years of age.
• have chronic heart or lung disorders serious enough to need regular medical follow-up.
• have chronic conditions that weaken the immune system, such as immune deficiencies, cancer, HIV or a treatment that causes immune suppression.
• have diabetes or other metabolic diseases.
• have chronic kidney disease.
• have to take acetylsalicylic acid on a daily basis.
• live in a chronic care facility.
• live in First Nation or Inuit communities.
• live with another child or adult who is at risk of complications from the flu.

Children under 5 years old are at higher risk of complications from the flu such as high fever, convulsions and pneumonia. If you have children younger than 5 years old or who have health complications, everyone living in the house should get a flu shot. This is especially important if you have children under 6 months old or if a member of your household is pregnant.

Can Severe Problems Occur

Life-threatening allergic reactions to flu shots are very rare. Signs of serious allergic reaction can include breathing problems, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heartbeat, or dizziness. If they do occur, it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after receiving the shot. These reactions can occur among persons who are allergic to something that is in the vaccine, such as egg protein or other ingredients. While severe reactions are uncommon, you should let your doctor, nurse, clinic, or pharmacist know if you have a history of allergy or severe reaction to influenza vaccine or any part of flu vaccine.

There is a small possibility that flu vaccine could be associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome, generally no more than 1 or 2 cases per million people vaccinated. This is much lower than the risk of severe complications from flu, which can be prevented by flu vaccine.

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Can I Get Allergy Tested For The Vaccine Components Before Taking A Vaccine

Routine skin testing for PEG is not recommended unless you have a history of a severe allergic reaction to an injectable medication or a history of a possible reaction to PEG.

If you have any questions or concerns prior to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, one of our board-certified allergists can help. Schedule today to meet with one of our allergists to feel confident before receiving your COVID-19 vaccine.

Family Allergy & Asthma is not offering the COVID-19 Vaccine at any of our locations. We recommend reaching out to your local health department to determine where you can receive the vaccine locally.

Potential Reactions To Allergy Shots

Every patient must wait 20 minutes after their shot before leaving the clinic. When a new vial is started, patients will be given a skin test. If the test is negative, we will administer the injection. Reactions are rare but are possible, so every patient must wait 20 minutes prior to leaving the clinic.

Patients who are undergoing treatment have been asked to fill a prescription for an Epinephrine Injector . As a delayed reaction may occur up to two hours after injection, a Wake ENT staff member will show each patient undergoing treatment how to use their Epi-Pen should it ever be necessary to do so.

If an injection is skipped, we may not be able to advance patients to their next dose at their next visit.

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Q: I Developed Guillain

In most cases, yes. Per the CDC: To date, no cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome have been reported following vaccination among participants in the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines clinical trials. With few exceptions, ACIPs general best practice guidelines for immunization does not include history of GBS as a contraindication or precaution to vaccination.

Flu Shot Dont Be Part Of The 20%

Walk-in flu shots available in all locations throughout Delaware Valley including Philadelphia , The Main Line , Bucks County , and South Jersey .

What is the flu shot?

The influenza vaccine is an immunization which helps the body avoid or minimize the effects of infection with the influenza virus . It protects against infection with the most common strains of the influenza virus which are circulating throughout the world that particular year.

Why should I get a flu shot?

Up to 20% of the U.S. population is infected with the flu virus each winter, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations. Young children, older adults and those with chronic illnesses are at the greatest risk, but even young, healthy adults are susceptible to the ill effects of the flu. You can run, but you cant hide from the highly contagious flu. Dont be part of The 20%, get your flu shot!

Who should get the flu shot?

The CDC recommends that pretty much everyone get the flu vaccine. It is very important for those with chronic illnesses or those in close contact with those with chronic illnesses. The flu vaccine is particularly critical for those with asthma, COPD or other chronic respiratory conditions, as an acute flu infection can result in life-threatening consequences.

Why get your flu shot with the allergists at The Asthma Center?

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They’re Not Just For Seasonal Allergies

Allergy shots can be effective for people with hay fever and other seasonal allergies, but they can also work for year-round indoor allergieslike mold, dust mites, and animal danderand allergies to insect bites or stings. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to work for food allergies.

“In the case of stinging insects, the shots can be close to curative,” Dr. Dziadzio said. “That’s the one time I really push people to get the shots no matter what, because it’s such a dangerous allergy.” Allergy shots may also be a good choice for people who don’t like taking medications or can’t avoid the thing they’re allergic tolike a pet or the great outdoors.

Side Effects Of The Flu Vaccine

It’s important to understand that the flu vaccine does not cause the flu. But some people will experience side effects similar to flu symptoms. Most of these are mild and often resolve on their own within a day or two.

Though the flu shot and the FluMist nasal flu vaccine share some side effects, there are also differences:

Side effects, however, are not necessarily symptoms of an allergy or other serious reaction. It’s important to understand the difference.

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Combination Vaccines And Fda Licensure

Only combination vaccines licensed by FDA should be used . Vaccination providers should not combine separate vaccines into the same syringe to administer together unless mixing is indicated for the patients age and is explicitly specified on the FDA-approved product label inserts. Only 2 combination vaccines, contain separate antigen components for which FDA approves mixing by the user. The safety, immunogenicity, and effectiveness of unlicensed combinations are unknown.

Are Allergy Shots Right For You

While we recommend you visit your doctor or allergist to ascertain whether youre a good candidate for allergy shots, these questions will also help you decide:

• What are your allergies? If youre allergic to one or more of the substances listed above, then allergy shots can help lessen your symptoms. However, if you have an allergy to latex, drugs, or certain foods, immunotherapy is not recommended.
• How bad are your allergies? If symptoms persist for longer than three out of 12 months or are impacting your daily activities then allergy shots may provide more relief than other treatment methods.
• What other treatments have you tried? If youre on a prescription antihistamine or another medication from an allergist but these dont help your symptoms, let your allergist know. They could recommend immunotherapy as your next treatment.
• Are you okay with needles? If you have a severe fear of or significant discomfort associated with needles, then you might want to rethink allergy shots. While its true the injections become less frequent as the treatment goes on, it will take a while to get there. You may want to discuss sublingual immunotherapy or SLIT with your allergist. This treatment involves you taking tablets or drops under your tongue instead of receiving injections.

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I Am Allergic To Egg And Therefore Should Not Receive The Flu Vaccine

Both inactivated as well as live, weakened influenza vaccines are made from viruses grown in eggs and therefore contain a small amount of egg protein. In individuals allergic to egg, hypersensitivity reactions to egg protein can therefore occur. Fortunately, recent studies have shown that almost all patients allergic to egg can safely receive the flu vaccine. As all these studies were done with the injectable trivalent inactivated vaccine, egg allergic patients should receive the trivalent inactivated vaccine rather than the live attenuated influenza vaccine. It is reassuring that almost all inactivated vaccines now contain minimal amount of egg protein. Flublok is considered egg-free and is licensed for use in 18 years and older.

How Should I Prepare For Allergy Shots

You may want to avoid exercise or doing anything strenuous for 2 hours before and after your appointment. Thatâs because exercise boosts blood flow to the tissues and may cause the allergens to spread throughout your body faster. Itâs not likely to cause a serious problem, but itâs best to be safe.

Tell your doctor about any other medicines or herbs and supplements you take. Some medications interfere with the treatment or raise the risk of side effects. You may need to stop allergy shots if you take these medications.

If youâre pregnant or planning to get pregnant, ask your doctor whether you should continue to get allergy shots.

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