The Flu Shot Making You Sick: Everyone's got a story about how they got the flu vaccine and came down with a strangely flu-ish ailment two days later. But is there any validity to the idea that the flu shot can —- gulp —- get you or your kid sick? According to the CDC, getting the flu from a flu shot is basically impossible. There are some minor (and yes, occasionally flu-like!) symptoms that can be associated with the vaccine, but they're exactly that —- minor. On the chance that you experience them at all, they won't get you nearly as sick as a serious bout of the flu.