Do you think I have the flu despite getting the flu shot?

[Anonymous]

I got the flu shot in late October which is plenty of time for the antibodies to kick in. However my entire family is unhealthy and they're all sick. I theorize this made my flu shot irrelevant. Last night, I was sure I had a fever. Somehow i was hot and cold at the same time. When I say that, I mean my torso felt like it was very cold and my arms were shivering but my legs were overheating. I've had little nausea and my joints have been hurting. This morning I was finally able to get a thermometer to check my temperature and it was 99.5 F and I don't feel that bad compared to last night. And I have a terrible cough.

[Incinerary]

Flu shots won't cover everything. They're supposed to further help prevent you from becoming sick, but there are so many different forms of bacteria and viruses which get us sick that no single flu shot can prevent it all. Personally, I think yearly flu shots and vaccines do more harm than good and are just another Big Pharma scam to get more money. Your body will become reliant on these shots and won't develop any natural antibodies. Building up your natural immune system will dominate any flu shot or vaccine. If your body really needs the extra help, then sure that's what medicine is for. But people are brainwashed to believe they need to take all these shots, endless amounts of pills, and artificial vitamins and minerals to stay healthy instead of changing their daily habits. I legitimately can't remember the last time I got a shot, it was easily over 10 years ago, and I never get sick, never see the doctor, and have taken maybe 2 ibuprofen in the last year. The best medicine is sleep. Unfortunately, once I start Rad Tech school, I'm gonna be forced to get those stupid shots too.

[Death_of_rats]

you're 18-24 why would you need a flu shot? aren't they reserved for the elderly?

[Asker]

Because the nursing school I'm in required it.

[Izumiblu]

Maybe, maybe not, it kind of doesn't matter.

The flu shot only covers a few strains and there are way more than that out there. Plus there are any number of other non-flu viruses out there that this doesn't cover at all. When it comes right down to it, you are sick. THere's good chance its not the flu but something else.

[Anonymous]

I am a nursing student so I can only speak from what I have experienced at school, but it sounds like the flu shot you received does not cover the strain (there are many various strains and superstrains of the flu out there).