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So, I read today that flu season has officially opened and cases are beginning to pop up in emergency rooms across the country. I never have personally gotten a flu shot, but I have this lingering fear of getting the flu just days before the LSAT in october. Are my fears warranted? Anyone ever had any experience with the flu shot? I am not particularly prone to getting sick, but I do not like leaving things to chance. Maybe this is just LSAT paranoia beginning to kick in

Never had a flu shot either, but never had the flu before.

I don't plan on getting a shot though.

While doctors will generally insist that the shot cannot make you sick as it is not a live virus, I personally have had the shot 3 years. Two of those years I experienced flu like symptoms about 12-16 hours after the shot. Mostly fever/chills and general sick feeling, but nothing like the actual flu. They didn't last very long, and each time I got sick I had the shot sometime in the late morning/afternoon and it was at night that I began getting the symtoms, and it was generally gone in the morning.

That said, I don't know anything about others' experience getting sick days or weeks after the shot, so who knows. Unless you expect to be exposed to the flu sometime before the test, I would just get it after. Just make sure you stay away from sick people and wash your hands often.

when i got the h1n1 vaccine last year, i had flu-like symptoms for a couple of days afterward. i don't know if it WAS from the vaccine, but i wouldn't risk it before the LSAT.

Are you a student? live in the dorms? If you're going to get a flu shot, I'd do it sooner than later in case you do have any side effects. The CDC is recommending everyone get the flu shot this year, just fyi. I've only had one flu shot in my life and I didn't have any side effects, and I didn't get the flu. But, this year I'm just taking Vitamin D.

If you've had reactions to shots in the past, then don't get it immediately before the LSAT. The vaccine is comprised of three attenuated (killed) strains, but still some people have a low-grade reaction as their antibodies are being generated. Others will have some pain, swelling, tenderness, itching at the injection site. All of these symptoms are easily alleviated through OTC treatment (tylenol, ibuprofin, ice), but can be annoying if you are needing to focus all attention on something else.

That said, CDC/DHHS is recommending the vaccine for all people >6months of age though it's predicted to be a mild flu season. In the past, post-influenza secondary infections have been particularly virulent in healthy young adults due to the overall strength of their immune response. Though I wouldn't recommend getting the vaccine a day or two before the test, but I firmly believe 99.9999% of the public should get the flu vaccine every year. Happy to give more info off-line if so desired.

I just called up my school's student health department and they are saying the shot won't even be out till mid-october. Your school/doctor may be different, but this would be pretty early to get it.

i'm pretty sure i got the flu yesterday (could just be a cold but im feeling especially awful). this sucks but at least it'll wear out soon. that contributed nothing to this thread but i just felt like sharing.