• Wear a short-sleeve shirt or a top with sleeves that are easy to roll up.

• To prevent feeling faint while being vaccinated, have something to eat before coming to the clinic. It is also important to drink water and stay hydrated.

• If you have cold or flu symptoms:

  • Contact us before coming

  • If advised to attend, wear a well-fitting mask to help prevent spreading illness to others

Afterwards

• The pharmacist will let you know where to wait and for how long after vaccination.

• The usual wait time is about 15 minutes after getting the vaccine. You may be asked to wait for longer if there is concern about a possible vaccine allergy.

Side effects

• After getting vaccinated, it’s common and normal to have temporary side effects. These are generally mild and go away on their own within a few days.

• If you have concerns about any symptoms following vaccination, consult a healthcare provider.

• Severe side effects after getting the vaccine are very rare. However, if you develop any serious symptoms that could be an allergic reaction, call 911 right away. 

Key takeaways

• It takes up to 2 weeks after having your vaccine for your body to start protecting against flu.

• You cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine.

• The flu and other respiratory illnesses are caused by different viruses.

• The flu vaccine does not protect against other viruses like:

  • COVID-19

  • Avian influenza A(H5N1)

  • RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus

• As with any vaccine, you may experience some side effects. Most are mild, do not last long and happen in the first few days of having the vaccine.

• After receiving your flu shot, you will be asked to wait.  This allows time to watch for possible reactions or side effects, including an allergic reaction.