Lupus Living With Is a Flu Shot Safe When You Have Lupus? Learn the Type of Influenza Vaccination That Is Right for People With Lupus By Jeri Jewett-Tennant, MPH Jeri Jewett-Tennant, MPH LinkedIn Jeri Jewett-Tennant, MPH, is a medical writer and program development manager at the Center for Reducing Health Disparities. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 11, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Anju Goel, MD, MPH Medically reviewed by Anju Goel, MD, MPH LinkedIn Anju Goel, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine. She has over 10 years of experience in the California public health system addressing communicable disease, health policy, and disaster preparedness. Learn about our Medical Review Board Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Marley Hall Fact checked by Marley Hall LinkedIn Marley Hall is a writer and fact checker who is certified in clinical and translational research. Her work has been published in medical journals in the field of surgery, and she has received numerous awards for publication in education. Learn about our editorial process Print Most healthcare providers recommend that people who have lupus receive the flu vaccine every year, just like anyone else. If you have lupus, you could be at a higher than average risk of becoming sick with the flu, especially if you're not vaccinated. The flu vaccine is safe and effective for people who have lupus. However, it might not provide as much protection for you due to your immune disease—so avoiding exposure is important, even after you get vaccinated. And live forms of the vaccine are not recommended if you have the flu. As always, check with your practitioner before getting the vaccine. Terry Vine/Blend Images/Getty Images Does the Flu Shot Cause Lupus Flares? Lupus is an autoimmune disease characterized by excess inflammation and autoimmune attacks (your immune system attacks your own body). The flu vaccine produces an immune response, but there is no evidence that it triggers worsening of lupus or a lupus flare. The flu shot is considered safe and effective for people with lupus. The shot can cause some side effects for people with or without lupus, and these side effects are not harmful to your body. The most common side effects of flu shots are: Swelling at the site of the injectionMuscle achesLow-grade fever Most people who have lupus will not experience unusual side effects from a flu shot. How the Flu Shot Works The vaccine is comprised of live or inactive (dead) influenza viruses. Your body produces an immune response to the virus that's in the vaccine. The immune response is expected to last so that your immune system will be able to quickly fight the virus without it making you very sick if you become exposed to it at a later time. The immune response that your body makes in response to the vaccine can give you harmless side effects but it won't give you the flu. The Right Flu Shot for People With Lupus If you have lupus, you should get the traditional flu shot, not the nasal spray FluMist. The nasal spray contains active (live) virus. Lupus, as well as some of the medications that are used to treat lupus, can weaken your immune system and make you susceptible to becoming getting the flu from the live virus. If you have lupus, you and the people with who you are in close contact should not take the live vaccine. That means that people who live with you should get the traditional shot too. How You Can Protect Yourself From the Flu Anyone who gets a flu vaccine should be careful about avoiding exposure to infections because vaccines are not 100% protective. If you have lupus, your immune system might be able to make a strong immune response to the vaccine and it may be less protective for you than it is for someone who doesn't have an immune problem. To reduce your risk of getting the flu: Get a flu shot every year.Avoid close contact with sick people.Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth during flu season.Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated. Simple Tips to Prevent Catching the Cold or Flu What to Do If You Get the Flu People with lupus are at an increased risk of flu complications, so it's especially important for you to see your healthcare provider if you think you have the flu. Call your practitioner if you have flu symptoms, which can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, vomiting, or diarrhea. Your medical professional can prescribe an antiviral medication, which may shorten your illness and/or make it less severe. The medications used to treat the flu can reduce symptoms by about one day if started within 48 hours of your initial symptoms. Keep in mind that antibiotics do not help against the flu. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 3 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Abdelahad M, Ta E, Kesselman MM, Demory Beckler M. A review of the efficacy of influenza vaccination in autoimmune disease patients. Cureus. 2021 May 13;13(5):e15016. doi:10.7759/cureus.15016 Mathian A, Pha M, Amoura Z. Lupus and vaccinations. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2018 Sep;30(5):465-470. doi:10.1097/BOR.0000000000000525 Liao Z, Tang H, Xu X, Liang Y, Xiong Y, Ni J. Immunogenicity and safety of influenza vaccination in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients compared with healthy controls: a meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2016;11(2):e0147856. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0147856 Additional Reading Lupus Foundation of America. Are flu and pneumonia vaccines safe if I have lupus? Updated December 5, 2013.