Health Officials Say Flu Shot is Safe, Mostly Harmless

Health administrators say the flu virus is continuing its spread throughout Wyoming and the U.S.

Despite limited remaining vaccination quantities, officials with the Casper-Natrona County Public Health Department are urging residents to get their flu shots as quickly as possible.

Public health director Robert Harrington says, counter to what online myths and folklore may claim, the flu shot is essentially harmless. He does say, however, that there are a few uncommon side effects.

"There are a few very rare things where people have extreme sensitivity, and, if that’s the case, you should have that diagnosed by your doctor and not have it self-diagnosed by some site on the internet," Harrington said.

Harrington says additional side effects include redness or swelling at the vaccination site and body aches.

A popular misconception online claims the flu shot can actually cause the flu. Harrington, however, says that claim is completely baseless.

"Absolutely impossible, it can not happen,” Harrington said. “It does take about two weeks for the vaccination to kick in, so it is possible that you can get the flu vaccination and get sick afterward, but that means you were exposed and affected before you got the vaccination."

According to the most recent weekly flu report from the Centers for Disease Control, the potentially deadly viral infection is now widespread in every state except Tennessee and Hawai’i.