Side effects of the child flu vaccine

Like all medicines, the nasal spray flu vaccine can cause side effects. They're usually mild and short term, and not everyone gets them. Side effects usually go away after a couple of days and you do not need to do anything about them.

These potential side effects are much less serious than flu or complications associated with flu.

Common side effects from the nasal spray vaccine

If your child had the nasal (nose) spray vaccine, the most common side effects are:

headache
muscle aches
a blocked or runny nose
reduced appetite
weakness

Less common side effects include a slightly raised temperature (temperature above 38°C), shivering, tiredness, or a nosebleed after the nasal spray flu vaccine.

More information on the possible side effects are available in the patient information leaflets

Common side effects from the injectable vaccine

If your child had the injectable vaccine, they might experience similar side effects to the nasal (nose) spray vaccine except the blocked or runny nose. The most common side effects are at the site where the injection was given:

swelling
redness
tenderness
a small hard lump

How to treat a fever

A fever is a body temperature over 38°C. Fevers are quite common in young children, but are usually mild. If your child’s face feels hot to the touch and they look red or flushed, they may have a fever. You can check their body temperature with a thermometer.

Keep your child cool by:

making sure they do not have too many layers of clothes or blankets on
turning down the heating in your home
giving them plenty of cool drinks

Putting your child in a bath, sponging them down or fanning them will not lower their fever but it might comfort them.

As fevers are usually mild, you only need to give a dose of paracetamol (or infant paracetamol if your child is under 6) if your child appears uncomfortable or unwell.

Never give medicines that contain aspirin to children under 16.

Always read the instructions on the bottle or packet very carefully.

More about treating a fever in children.

Urgent advice: Speak to your GP or phone 111 if:

you're concerned about your infant’s health at any time

If you're worried about your child, trust your instincts.

Close contact with family members who have a severely weakened immune system

Children who have had the nasal spray flu vaccine should avoid close contact with family members who have a severely weakened immune system for up to two weeks following immunisation.