Skepticism, Science & Pseudoscience

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)

12. You're not getting the flu. But you might be getting an immune response.

Mon Nov 24, 2014, 04:25 AM

Nov 2014

The sniffles isn't the flu virus. It's your body mounting a defense.

I often liken the flu shot as handing a 'wanted poster' to your immune system. Your body still has to do all the heavy lifting. If your immune system has seen that strain of the flu before, not surprising you might get a mild response. You might get the sniffles. Your temp might go up. These are all things your body does to turn yourself inhospitable to the invader.

An invader the flu shot has given your body just cause to think is inside the walls.

Edit: Or, of course, it could be something totally unrelated. Like a mild cold.

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So I got a flu vaccination this morning [View all] Orrex Sep 2014 OP

Careful, my dear Orrex! CaliforniaPeggy Sep 2014 #1

Powerful stuff! Orrex Sep 2014 #2

If you join the GOP, we'll know. Archae Sep 2014 #3

According to great medical minds like Jenny McCarthy Warpy Sep 2014 #4

...or you'll become a "Crystal child": friendly_iconoclast Sep 2014 #5

I prefer the term "Lightshower" Orrex Sep 2014 #7

Oh God, I'm on the spectrum and I had some New Age lunatic... Odin2005 Nov 2014 #10

Those dipshits are a bane upon those with other chronic situations as well friendly_iconoclast Nov 2014 #11

Every time I get a flu shot, I get the flu about 2 weeks later LiberalEsto Sep 2014 #6

You'll probably go into spontaneous combustion before then! LeftishBrit Sep 2014 #8

Turns out I've developed a case of the sniffles Orrex Sep 2014 #9

You're not getting the flu. But you might be getting an immune response. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #12