Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated and Headaches: What Users Say

• ski...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 27, 2024

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated for Influenza Prophylaxis "No one told me I was getting the high dose or if I wanted it. Very bad reaction: couldn't move for two days, horrible headache, joint and muscle pain, hurt from my feet all through the body. Balance issues, couldn't eat or sleep. Worse than any flu I've ever had. It took me two weeks to shake it off. I guess the pharmacists give the same dose to a 300+ pound male as to a skinny 68-year-old vegetarian. When I went back to Walgreens pharmacy to report the adverse reaction, they were not remotely interested in my case, all I got was a shrug and "Sorry". Didn't take any information from me or even make a note of it happening. Never again!"

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2019

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated for Influenza Prophylaxis "For 24 hours after the high-dose flu shot (over 65), I endured chills, headache, stomach upset, stuffy nose, felt very, very sick all over, and ached and ached. Not a pleasant experience—yes, there are reactions to this shot—don’t let the medical profession fool you! I hope this was all worth it—"

• Avi...
• December 14, 2019

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated for Influenza Prophylaxis "I took the high-dose flu vaccine on 9/27 as I was planning a trip that required long hours in flight. Three days later, I had extremely bloodshot eyes with tearing, photophobia, chills, body aches, and headaches the like of which I have never had before. They seemed to be worse at night and early morning but varied in location and intensity. My balance was off (not good for a hiker!), so I was off-trail for a considerable time. Blurred vision, so I had my eyes examined with no changes there. Continued headaches with high blood pressure requiring an increase in my BP medication. This took me to the doctor and had an MRI on December 11. It was negative. Still having gait problems this far out from the vaccine and headaches. No one will ever convince me that this is a safe vaccine. I travel a lot and have had vaccines for typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A & B, pneumococcal, DPT in the last two years. Nothing wiped me out like this. I had to reschedule the trekking expedition I had planned for months."

• Lay...
• November 12, 2019

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated for Influenza Prophylaxis "This year was my first time taking the Fluzone High-Dose vaccine. I've experienced headaches, increased weakness, and pain in my muscles and joints, back (body). I've experienced increased difficulty walking and trouble raising my legs to rest them on the ottoman (still hurt), or when getting into bed. Sleep has been difficult. It feels like having the flu. I have some musculoskeletal difficulty on a normal day. After the Fluzone High-Dose vaccine, it's like a sudden, lingering onset of the body aches. I had the flu in 1992. It took all of my strength away; with aches and pain. When I thought it was cleared up, it doubled down. It was hard to get rid of. I felt blessed and thankful to get over it. I have taken the regular flu (influenza) vaccine every year since. I'll go back to the regular vaccine. No Fluzone High-Dose for me. I am thankful for a healthy immune system. I feel that the regular flu vaccine will be good enough. Thanks-but-no, thanks."

• Apa...
• October 5, 2020

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated for Influenza Prophylaxis "Had the high dose of this Fluzone vaccine this morning since I am 77. Never had the injection before and never had the flu. Late after noon, I now have a sore throat, a cough, a one-degree elevated temperature, a headache, and I don’t feel well! These are symptoms of COVID-19 also. I regret ever taking this vaccine!! I am in very good health usually!"

• Mil...
• November 7, 2018

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated "I had a severe headache that lasted a week. I began to have terrible pain in my hip, which became worse, interfering with my walking. I have never had joint pain of any kind before this Fluzone High-Dose injection. I am still dealing with this for two months now. My doctor has given me a cortisone shot in the hip, which has helped some to ease the pain, but I am concerned that this will become chronic."

• poc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2020

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated for Influenza Prophylaxis "I got the Fluzone High-Dose for the first time this year. I normally get the regular injection with no issues. I am 72 and a very healthy guy. Eight hours after the injection, I am suddenly hit with severe body aches, cough, headache, and my oxygen level dropped to 83. I spent three days in the hospital, and a week later I have severe fatigue issues and some kind of upper respiratory infection. If I try to take a deep breath, I can't, I start to cough and have some blood in what I cough up. I was tested for COVID and the flu, which were negative. My white blood cell count is twice what it should be. You want my advice? Stay clear of this shot."

• Rox...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2019

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated "Received Fluzone HD at the end of Sept. I went 4 years w/o even a cold with regular flu shots. As of Dec., I caught a heavy cold; no fever but too much coughing, headaches, and chest/bad sinus congestion. It seems to reduce after 3 days then restart...over and over again. Next year, back to the normal flu shot."

• Jan...
• December 3, 2019

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated "I had a bad reaction to this vaccine within 2 hours of the injection. First, I became congested, and a cough developed shortly after the congestion started. Then came a headache, followed by nausea and vomiting. I felt feverish and basically felt like I had the flu. I felt much better the next morning but had to stay home from work because I wasn't feeling well enough to go anywhere. By late afternoon, I was nearly back to normal. I have never had a reaction like this to the regular dose of the flu vaccine. I will not take the high dose again."

• Sic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2022

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated for Influenza Prophylaxis "I am female and just turned 65 years old and was given this shot instead of the regular flu shot I had always been given, which never caused any side effects at all. At first, my arm was a little sore, but nothing compared to Covid arm. Two days later, I noticed I was really tired and needed to go to bed early, even though it was the weekend. At the end of the third day, I felt awful. I had chest pain, body aches, and a pounding headache, but the worst was the extreme weakness. I couldn’t get from one end of the house to the other without being short of breath with my heart pounding. This went on for four more days. It would let up now and then, but always came back. The side effects were worse and lasted much longer than the Covid shots I had had previously. I will never get this again! It was a horrendous experience!"

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2021

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated for Influenza Prophylaxis "I am 67 years old. Got this vaccine yesterday. By yesterday evening, I had chills, painful body spasms, and a headache. My husband had to help me walk. It was like having the flu! Did not sleep much last night due to spasms, headache, and chills. Mental confusion as well. I will refuse to take this vaccination again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 18, 2019

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated for Influenza Prophylaxis "Our mother received this vaccine, and it has sent her to the hospital with severe rare side effects to include partial collapsed lung, DVT, meningitis and encephalitis, swelling of eyes, hands, mouth, throat, weakness, vomiting and diarrhea, headache, vasculitis. If you have had chemo and radiation, please do not let your oncologist tell you it is safe. It is contraindicated for patients who have received radiation therapy! It interacts with 196 drugs!"

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2020

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated for Influenza Prophylaxis "I’m 66 years old, and this is the first time I had the Fluzone HD. I was okay with the shot until bedtime when I experienced muscle aches, chills, and slight headaches (no fever), which lasted a couple of days. By the third day, all symptoms had resolved. I never experienced any swelling or pain in the arm where the shot was administered. I have always taken flu shots and had the 65 and over flu shot last year. This is the first time I ever experienced any side effects. I was informed that I would have some stiffness, which was an understatement! I’m in good health and not on any medications. I will stick with the regular 65 and older flu vaccination from now on!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2021

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated for Influenza Prophylaxis "October 8, 2021, I received the HD flu vaccine for the first time. I am 71 and in good health. After 6 hours, I developed a headache and severe muscle and joint pain. Terrible back pain and couldn't sleep. Low-grade fever the next day and still aching, headache. I will never get this type of vaccine again. Never had a problem with the regular flu vaccine."

• Sam...
• September 20, 2020

For Influenza Prophylaxis "I usually get a flu shot every year. I'm 4 more years away from getting the high-dose, so I received the standard IM flu vaccine 3 days ago. Usually, I do get headaches from flu vaccines because of the thimerosal in it. Friday night after getting it, my headache slammed in, and this year the flu shot brought in heavy waves of nausea. Come Saturday, my arm was throbbing with pain not so much on the outer area of my arm but deep into my muscle where the vaccine is. I never have this much pain. Quite honestly, for some reason, it hurts like I had a Tetanus injection instead of the flu. It's Sunday, and the pain increased again... Sunday brings movement of my arm or laying on it to quell the nausea, very sharp pain the whole time of movement, lifting, or sleeping on it (I'm a side sleeper). I can't imagine why this year's vaccine caused so much nausea and pain for a simple injection. It seems to have flared my asthma a bit as well."

• NNN...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 10, 2023

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated for Influenza Prophylaxis "I’m 61 and had Flucelvax for the first time on 10/7. I had only mild symptoms until 48 hours later. Then extreme fatigue, fever, body aches, nasal congestion, headache, very sore injection site with swelling/redness. This threw me for a total loop because all of my previous flu vaccine reactions have occurred the day of my shot. I was up sweating all night with a 102 fever and still feel weak today."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2022

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated for Influenza Prophylaxis "I have been very sick for days following this shot. High fever, chills, terrible body pain, heart racing, and some of the worst headaches of my life. I won’t be getting the flu shot again. I was perfectly fine when I went in, four hours after the shot, I was in terrible pain and not in my arm."

• Soo...
• November 6, 2022

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated for Influenza Prophylaxis "11/5/22 - 101 degree body temp, nausea, muscle soreness, headache (besides injection site soreness). Couldn't be vertical for 24 hours. Slept off and on all night and day. Couldn't eat anything for 24 hours."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 1, 2014

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated "There was no pain at the injection site. Both my boyfriend and I received the shot and had close to the same experience, except I have been having extreme vomiting after two weeks of getting the shot. We both experienced a severe headache starting within 30 minutes of receiving the shot that lasted about a day and a half, followed by severe diarrhea that is still going on, three weeks from the time of injection with nausea. He is having lots of muscle aches still, while I'm having severe pain up one of my legs near the hip. Neither of us had problems or sickness before the shot that would indicate it was something other than the shot."

• DJB...
• December 29, 2020

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated for Influenza Prophylaxis "Long time, 20-year physician assistant. I am studying influenza for my PhD, which is almost complete. Also have an MPH. Got the flu injection last Monday, and my normal pattern is 5 days in, I get that invisible sickness we tell everyone they 'can't get,' and it's all in their heads. But this time - I have not been well enough to go get a COVID test (it was believed I had it in April, I got very ill, lost taste and smell very dramatically (before we knew it was a symptom), but the older test came back negative, and they quarantined me for 12 days. This flu shot at 5 days - I am now at 7 days post-injection. I cannot sleep, my legs ached beyond anything I have ever felt, and the last 2 days my head feels like it is popping off - but I know headaches, and this one is VERY flu-like. I am miserable and have to report to NYC health, Manhattan, for a paid gig helping in the COVID surge this week in the ER and ICU as I have been out of work since being laid off due to the damn virus. So I have to will myself better."

• Mad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 4, 2022

For Influenza Prophylaxis "Got this vaccine on Friday, Nov. 2nd, 2022. Then let's just say 6 hours after the injection, I developed a cough with horrible chest pains. Then later that night, I got nauseous and couldn't lay down to sleep, or else I would vomit. On Saturday, I had bloodshot eyes, and my joints and muscles ached so bad I had a low-grade fever that didn't go down. Saturday night, I was able to lay down and sleep, but Sunday morning, bad headache along with a bad cough still. This was an inactive vaccine, so I had no idea why I got so sick from it. I seem to be getting better now, so hopefully this was worth it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2022

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated for Influenza Prophylaxis "My doc told me to always get the flu and pneumonia shot. In the past, I almost died from pneumonia, hospitalized for a month. So every year, I go and get the high dose for flu. I'm a 68-year-old. I'm almost at death's door, almost. Every time I even went to the ER several of those times, the ER doc asked if I got the flu shot and I said yes. I asked him why I feel so horrible when I was vaccinated against the flu, and his reply was at least it kept you from dying! Well, I couldn't wrap my head around this. So the very next year, which was 2021, I went and got another flu shot that year. Well, believe me, I'm done with them, I'd rather take my chances. Last year, at the height of the pandemic, I thought okay, I better get some protection. It wasn't long until I fell ill with nausea, 103 fever, agonizing headaches, and muscle aches. Called the doc, said oh it could be COVID, get tested... no local testing available. So I quarantined at home. I know it was the flu and not COVID, no coughing, no SOB. Never again!"

• Anonymous
• November 24, 2022

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated for Influenza Prophylaxis "75-year-old healthy woman. Had Flucelvax 3 weeks ago and still feeling horrible. Headache, shoulder, neck pain, night sweats, muscle weakness, nausea, and fatigue. Terrible vaccine. I hope all this goes away soon."

• Tin...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 29, 2021

For Influenza Prophylaxis "Vaxigrip Tetra. I was injected 8 days ago, feeling extremely unwell. With no fewer, but no energy at all, nausea after moving around, stomach cramps, and light headache. After the first day, I was feeling really good, but the 2nd day was a real torture for me. I'm lactose and gluten intolerant, so I thought I was glutened because of cramps and nausea. After that, my appetite went down. I lost some weight, nothing serious, still lying in my bed, but very angry. Hope these symptoms will go away soon, but honestly, I will never do this again."

• CCa...
• October 20, 2019

Influenza virus vaccine, inactivated for Influenza Prophylaxis "Never felt bad after a flu vaccine until I received Fluad. Chills, malaise, headache, no energy, dull abdominal cramps, and no appetite. I will definitely not get this particular vaccine next year."