Why did I catch the flu even after taking the vaccine?

Every year, flu season brings fever, sore throat, cough, body pain, and days of feeling drained. For this reason, health experts strongly advise taking the annual flu vaccine. But many people are surprised when they still fall sick even after getting their flu shot. This leads to a common question: If the vaccine is meant to protect us, why do people still get the flu? The answer is not simple—because the flu virus is unpredictable, our immune responses differ, and timing matters.

Dr Preeti Chhabria, Director of Internal Medicine & General Medicine at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, explains:

"The flu vaccine is an important way to prevent the risk of severe illness. Though it will not prevent all cases of influenza, it reduces the risk of complications and hospitalisation. Indivi