[Jen H]

Hi,

I'd like to get the flu shot and was wondering if anyone knows whether it's gluten-free? I would think it would be safe because it's not ingested, but I'm not sure. Anyone had the flu shot yet this year?
Thanks, Jen

[Jen H]

Thanks Shirley. Does anyone know about the flu shot in the U.S.?

[lovegrov]

All injectables and IVs are gluten-free. The flu shot is safe from a gluten standpoint.

richard

[Jen H]

Great, thanks Richard.
Jen

[Carriefaith]

Quote

Anyone had the flu shot yet this year?

I'm getting mine on Monday. I think that it's really important to get the flu shot this year.

[Kim]

The flu shot in the US (the ones I am aware of anyway) do contain egg, so if you have an egg allergy, you should definitely ask about that before getting the shot.

Kim.

[Rusla]

I don't get the flu shots even though I am supposed to because of my asthma etc. I am allergic to them which I suffer more with them than if I had the flu.

[Carriefaith]

I also think it important to get one every year as well I hate getting the flu anyway, but it would be even worse if I had a gluten reaction and the flu at the same time. However, I think that this year is especially important to get a flu shot because of the threat of avain flu. Although the flu shot would not protect against the avian flu, it should stop the chances of getting the regular flu. If an individual came in contact with both viruses, the two viruses could intermix and create a "super virus" inside the body, which would not be good.

I really hope that the avian flu does not become a pandemic, that would be just awful

[Rusla]

Unfortunately some of us who are allergic to the flu shot have to roll the dice on this one. The last flu shot I had put me in the hospital and I was swollen for more than a month. I have managed to fight every flu that has gone around in this building, I hope I will this year too.

[Carriefaith]

Quote

Unfortunately some of us who are allergic to the flu shot have to roll the dice on this one. The last flu shot I had put me in the hospital and I was swollen for more than a month. I have managed to fight every flu that has gone around in this building, I hope I will this year too.

Yeah, you definately don't want to get it if you are allergic. There are other things you can do to help prevent getting the flu such as, frequent hand washing, not touching your face, using papertowel or toilet paper to turn of taps in public washrooms.

[Jen H]

Thanks for the feedback. So, it sounds like allergies to eggs are the only reason to rule out the flu shot. I work with kids and I'm constantly getting all their colds. Plus, being new to the gluten-free scene, I"m having a hard time differentiating between the flu and getting glutened. I'm hoping the flu shot will keep me healthy.
Thanks again,
Jen

[elonwy]

I got mine cause my doctor was just shy of ordering me to get it. The whole gluten thing makes us more sucseptible to germs, especially when we're still healing, and I work at a school, and around way too many people not to get it. It's my first time having it, I always figured I wasn't in a "risk group" but evidently I am now.
My arm hurt a little bit for a couple days from the shot itself, but other than that I've had no effects from it.
Elonwy