Are there any risks in getting a flu or tetanus shot a few days after donating blood?

Question

By coincidence my work location has scheduled a blood drive for Monday and will be giving flu and tetanus shots on Thursday of the same week.

I donate both whole blood as well as platelets a few times a year. Being in a job where I both travel and have contact with many people, the flu shot is a good precaution for me, and it has been more than 10 years since I last had a tetanus shot.

I have heard there is a small chance of developing flu-like symptoms after getting a flu shot and was wondering if this might be more likely to occur, or if the symptoms could be worse, or if there are any other risks associated with being innoculated for both flu and tetanus while the body is in the process of replenishing the red blood cells lost when the pint of blood was donated.

Answer 1

Hi There

Here is a few points of views on Flu shots.


Flu shot left Canadian executive paralyzed
Two weeks after his flu shot, Mr. Claman awoke with a pounding headache and a strange feeling in his feet. The doctor was reassuring, telling the 47-year-old businessman that the symptoms were probably related to stress. His condition deteriorated, so he made his way to a hospital emergency room. His body was gradually going numb. Doctors immediately recognized the tell-tale signs of Guillain Barre syndrome, a baffling, potentially fatal condition that resembles polio. By afternoon, Mr. Claman was completely paralyzed. He was placed in intensive care and put on a respirator. He spent the next eight months in hospital and now, a year after his flu shot, is just beginning to walk unassisted again. "It's been a harrowing experience," Mr. Claman said in an interview. more
Why I Never Get Flu Shots

According to Hugh Fudenberg, MD, the world's leading immunogeneticist and 13th most quoted biologist of our times (nearly 850 papers in peer review journals), if an individual has had five consecutive flu shots between 1970 and 1980 (the years studied), his/her chances of getting Alzheimer's Disease is ten times higher than if they had one, two or no shots. I asked Dr. Fudenberg why this was so and he said it was due to the mercury and aluminum that is in every flu shot (and most childhood shots). The gradual mercury and aluminum buildup in the brain causes cognitive dysfunction. Is that why Alzheimer's is expected to quadruple?

Dr. Mercola - "Do Not Get the Flu Vaccine for You or Your Loved Ones Till You've Learned "The Secret"
The Spanish Influenza Epidemic of 1918 was caused by vaccinations---E. McBean (Swine Flu Expose)
Flu shot left executive paralyzed

Best of health to you

Cheers

Answer 2

It's amazing what strange and rare occurrences that will hit the news and then become gospel through the Internet. Anything is possible although extremely rare. More people die from flu complications every year than have a rare reaction to the vaccine. Visiting Iowa during the flu season several years ago I was shocked that they gave a daily body count on the evening new from flu deaths.
The shot is a killed virus. You may feel a little achy as your body makes antibioties to the serum. Once this happens you will be able to attack the flu virus if and when you are exposed. As far as mercury and aluminum exposure from the shot, you probabley got more exposure from the old childhood vaccines than the new. Most all vaccines have eliminated this preservative. Check with your health care practitioner. and by the wat, the jury is still out on whether or not these prevervatives causes neurological damage. Until they decide I make my choices with inteeligent information available at the time. I'm glad to see yu do your research. You may want to check out Web MD for further information.

Answer 3

the possibility of developing flu-like symptoms is possible following any vaccination. This is due to your body's immune system going into full drive to manufacture the antibodies to the agent, as well as turning on other aspects of your immune system, so that you will be able to fight off the disease at a later date.

I doubt that you would be at a risk for developing more serious side-effects following the donation of blood. If you are in doubt, ask your health care provider for specific information about your personal health.

By the by ... the vaccine industry and the scientific research which resulted in the development of vaccines is a very public matter. There is no great conspiracy about vaccines. I worked in the industry, and have done a research paper on the anti-vaccine movement for a microbiology course. The "science" cited by these groups is, for the most part, pretty poor. I do not doubt the sincerity of most of these people, but having had a bad response to a vaccine does not mean there is a conspiracy to destroy the public health.

Answer 4

No. There is no increased risk. GB syndrome is a rare complication of Flu vaccine.

Answer 5

good lord...blah blah blah no.

Answer 6

no