Has anyone dealt with an alergic reaction to a Flu Shot?

Published

New-grad nurse here with just about no experience and hoping to get by with a paycheck or two administering flu shots this season. I'm was just wondering if anyone has seen an allergic reaction to a flu shot or vaccination after they administered it?

If so, how soon after injection did it manifest? What actions had to be taken?

I know that, as a child, I was often told to go to the waiting room for 15 minutes or so after I recieved an immunization but in recent years it seems people are just sent hope with a piece of paper. Are life threatening reactions really that rare? or are nurses and clinics just becoming lax about safety.

Also, is there any word on weither or not the new H1N1 flu vaccination be any different from flu shots in the past?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED.

Generally, you can get an allergic reaction to any medication. The flu vaccine is made from eggs. It also contains preservatives, along with the actual virus. A person can have an allergy to any or all components. Because food allergies are fairly common, the flu vaccine poses a risk of reaction.

Most severe reactions will probably present fairly quickly, but others can take time to develop. They are treated depending on severity, usually with benadryl, steroids, pepcid and Epi if needed.

As for H1N1, there is no word on whether it will be different because only small pilot studies have been done. My guess is that, in terms of acute allergic reactions, it won't be much different. As for the other longer-term deleterious effects, nobody will be able to answer that for you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED.

PS:

If you are giving the H1N1 vaccine, you should ask people to sign a waiver understanding that this contains 2 components never used in a flu vaccine before, was thrown together in a few months and has only been tested on a few people. It should contain a statement promising not to sue you if they develop Guillain Barre', severe allergic reaction not seen in other flu vaccines, avian H5 flu from contaminated vaccines or other unforeseen illnesses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Too many to list.

There is no H5 component in any US flu vaccines.

There is no adjuvant.

If you want thimerosal free vaccine, it will be available.

http://www.medicinenet.com/guillain-barre_syndrome/article.htm

Guillain-Barré syndrome can affect anybody. It can strike at any age and both sexes are equally prone to the disorder. The syndrome is rare, however, afflicting only about one person in 100,000. Usually Guillain-Barré occurs a few days or weeks after the patient has had symptoms of a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection. Occasionally surgery or vaccinations will trigger the syndrome.

GBS is more associated with infection than with injection.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute post op ortho.

Thousands of injuries can be researched here....

http://www.medalerts.org/

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion