The flu shot vaccination uses a little bit of the most recent influenza strain to help your body build a natural immunity to the disease. Once your body is able to build immunity to the yearly flu virus, then you’ll be protected for the majority of the flu season. This means that the sooner you get your flu shot, the less likely you’ll get sick throughout the year.
Side effects from the flu shot may occur, however it is a myth that a patient will catch the flu from a flu shot. If side effects do occur they are typically between a few minutes to a few hours of receiving the shot, & may include soreness/swelling in the arm that was given the shot, or cold-like symptoms. It is extremely important to remember the benefits of getting a flu shot outweigh the risk of the potential side effects.