Seasonal Influenza Vaccine
Our seasonal flu vaccine is given in the fall to help protect our patients against seasonal influenza. We recommend that all patients receive the seasonal influenza vaccine. Click here to read more from the CDC on the 2009-2010 influenza vaccine.
Serious problems from the influenza vaccine are very rare. The viruses in the inactivated influenza vaccine have been killed, so you cannot get influenza from the vaccine.
Mild Problems:
- Soreness, redness. or swelling where the shot was given.
- Hoarseness.
- Sore or red eyes.
- Cough.
- Itchiness
- Fever.
- Aches.
If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1 to 2 days.
Severe Problems:
- Life-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very rare. If they do occur, it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot.
- In 1976, a certain type of influenza (swine flu) vaccine was associated with Guillain-Barre' Syndrome (GBS). Since then, flu vaccines have not been clearly linked to GBS. However, if there is a risk of GBS from current flu vaccines, it would be no more than 1 or 2 cases per million people vaccinated. This is much lower than the risk of severe influenza, which can be prevented by vaccination.
**This information was taken directly from the Inactivated Influenza VIS dated 8/11/2009.