Flu Shot Gone Wrong

Flu shot is an annual inactivated flu vaccine which is made up of three seasonal influenza viruses, that is, A (H3N2) virus, influenza A (H1N1) virus (regular seasonal virus) and influenza B virus. These viruses are grown in eggs and then inactivated and developed into vaccination shots. Besides flu shots, swine flu shots are now available everywhere. People might get confused after knowing about 'flu shot gone wrong' cases, so here follows the necessary information.

Flu Shot

The Center for Disease Control has published guidelines about who should be immunized against flu. Here is the recommended list:

• People whose age is 50 or above
• Residents of chronic-care facilities and other nursing homes
• Women in their second or third trimester of pregnancy during the flu season
• Children and adults who have chronic lung or heart problems, including children with asthma
• Children and teens receiving long-term aspirin therapy, who may develop Reye's Syndrome after the flu
• Children and adults who have chronic metabolic diseases like diabetes mellitus, renal dysfunction, hemoglobinopathies, or immunosuppression such as HIV

Bird flu, influenza or flu, swine flu, all are considered serious conditions. Annual flu shots are recommended to prevent flu. Some of the flu shot ingredients like mercury, thimerosal, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, streptomycin, phenol and aluminum can cause problems or side effects. Those who don't know about the side effects may create flu shot or swine flu shot gone wrong hoax. Here is a list of possible side effects of the vaccine.

Side Effects

• Skin allergies
• Wheezing, Allergic asthma (rarely noticed)
• Low-grade fever, weakness
• Swollen tender skin at the area of the shot.
• Cough, Chills, headache
• Guillain Syndrome, a severe paralytic disease
• Runny nose
• Muscle, joint ache

Severe allergic reaction to the shot can occur very rarely. Similarly a one in a million person may suffer from Guillain Syndrome. It is your duty to inform the doctor about the medicines you are taking. You should discuss your health problems including allergies, with your doctor, before taking a shot. In very very rare case, flu vaccination can go horribly wrong. You should not pay heed to exaggerated stories of flu shot reactions. There were some serious cases of flu vaccine side effects, some of which were found fake later.

Severe Adverse Reaction
A woman developed the nerve disease Guillain-Barre syndrome after receiving a flu shot in 2005 through the federal department of parliamentary services. A public servant had developed a potentially fatal condition after a flu shot. The truth is generally found out after a lengthy process of investigation but the effect on society is instantaneous. There were also rumors about H1N1 flu shot leading to severe adverse effects. It should also be noted that a seasonal flu vaccine will not protect you against 2009 H1N1 flu.

It is necessary to know possible side effects of the shot before taking the shot. You should also know that usually, all side effects of flu shot disappear within 24 hours of appearance. If you develop any serious side effect, call the doctor immediately. Inform your doctor when and where you took the shot, do not forget to mention the time you took your shot. You can request the doctor or nurse to file a form of Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). If you think that you have been injured by the flu shot, you can file a claim for compensation from the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).