Is it okay to get a flu shot if I have a mild sinus infection?
Ask the doctor
Q. I have a sinus infection. Is it okay for me to get a flu shot? Also, how long does it take for the vaccine to start protecting me against the flu?
A. In general, a mild infection without a fever should not stop you from getting a flu shot.
Mild infections include:
- colds
- sore throats
- bronchitis
- ear and sinus infections.
If you have a fever, don't get the flu shot until the fever goes away. It's not that getting the flu shot while you have a fever is dangerous. It's that you and your doctor won't know if your infection is getting worse or if the flu shot is causing the higher temperature.
Regarding the time it takes for a flu shot to start working, it varies. It can start as early as one week, with protection being quite strong after two weeks. Even if the shot doesn't protect against getting the flu, it improves the chances that the symptoms will be less severe and less likely to lead to complications.
Image: © Jacob Wackerhausen/Getty Images
About the Author
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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