You will feel a little sharp poke and sting with the intramuscular (IM) flu vaccine. Afterward it might get a little sore at the site of the injection. It's much better than getting the FLU, though.
There is now a new form of flu vaccines (called Fluzone ID in the US) available for the 2011-2012 flu season that uses a "Microinjection system" to inject the vaccine between the layers of skin. This new type provides:
- Improved acceptance by needle-averse individuals
- Needle is not readily visible to the patient
- Needle size 90% smaller than IM needles, 30 gauge
- Needle depth 1.5 mm
- Smaller amount of vaccine solution injected 0.1 mL
- Less antigen per injection, 27 mcg compared to 45 mcg IM
- Trials indicate less pain with injections
- Can cause more local injection site symptoms of mild to moderate redness, swelling, and other site reactions than IM, for 3-7 days than IM
- Fewer systemic reactions (fever, headaches, muscle aches, etc.) than IM
- 75% of trial participants were very satisfied
- 96% of clinicians giving the ID vaccines would recommend that method
