Why does flu shot hurt

Bring your arm in front of you and push against your elbow. Or try crawling your fingers on a wall. Another good choice: Moving your arm in a circular motion. Keeping your arm moving increases blood flow to the injection site, which can provide momentarily pain relief.

Time it right. Many people prefer to schedule a flu shot appointment for Friday or Saturday so they can take the weekend to feel better. Time use of over the counter pain medication, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Taking a pain reliever, an hour or two before or right after your flu shot appointment can help ward off that sore arm feeling and reduce swelling. I generally recommend this approach for adults, but parents can consider giving a low dose to children as well. Arm soreness in the hours and days following the injection is a normal response.

Most people get the flu shot regularly, whereas most other vaccines are administered during childhood, Dunn said. The flu has had time to circulate, with kids being back in school for a couple of months.

While it has been mild so far this year, the number of people falling ill is increasing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC. The state Department of Health DOH tracks the flu season from the fall of one year through the fall of the following year.

For the season spanning Sept. During the season, people died, which was the most this decade. The season with the fewest flu deaths in the past 10 years came in , when 20 people died. Getting it late is better than not at all. This November your donation goes even further to improve lung health and defeat lung cancer.

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Thank you! You will now receive email updates from the American Lung Association. Select your location to view local American Lung Association events and news near you. Our service is free and we are here to help you. Back to Each Breath Blog. Antigens When you receive a flu vaccination, your body is being introduced to antigens.

How can I alleviate my arm pain? Call your doctor if you experience serious side effects The flu vaccine will not give you the flu. A little bit of arm pain is necessary each year.