Medical nurses looking after patients with immunity problems should also be vaccinated. It is impossible to get influenza from the vaccine. Unfortunately the vaccine is given at a time when other flu-like illnesses circulate within the community and any symptoms you get at this time may be due to other infections caught around the time of vaccination. The influenza vaccine contains strains of the vaccine that have been killed and split. What is actually given by injection is only the part of the virus that will protect you from the disease.
Most people have little or no reaction to the vaccine injection.
One in four might have a swollen red tender area where the vaccine was given. Occasionally slight fever and chills, or even worsening of chest symptoms may occur in those who already have chest disease. These rarely last longer than one or two days. Because the vaccine is produced in eggs, people who are allergic to eggs should not receive the vaccine unless it is absolutely necessary. Every 10 years or so a very different strain appears which may cause a major world-wide epidemic.