The reason why so many are terrified of being vaccinated against any number of flu, not just the Swine Flu, is the many horror stories that people hear about the terrible side effects that come about as a result of being vaccinated. While many of these stories have either been blown out of proportion or are taken out of context, there is still the risk of a serious side effect from being vaccinated and so should be discussed with your doctor. It cannot be stressed enough however, that these side effects are rare and many can be avoided as long as you are aware of them and your own health.
The most serious side effects are as follows:
- Allergic reactions, ranging from hives to a rare condition called Guillain-Barre Syndrome which causes nerve damage, muscle weakness and fever. The 1976 Swine Flu vaccination had a few cases of GBS; however, these were at a rate of about one in one million.
- Death from a severe allergic reaction.
However, it must be underscored that these conditions are very rare and should not deter you from exploring the swine flu and other flu vaccinations.
The following people should not have the flu vaccination and have to explore other means of protecting themselves from the swine flu and other influenza:
- If you are allergic to eggs, then the risk of contracting an allergic reaction to swine flu vaccinations and other vaccinations rises dramatically, so it’s best to avoid the risk altogether. This is because egg proteins are used as part of the vaccination.
- If you have shown hypersensitivity to other vaccinations
- If you have contracted HBS from a prior vaccination in the last six months
- If you have a fever or are sick from something other than a cold or other minor illness such as die rhea or earaches, then your immunization should be postponed.
A full swine flu vaccination is still in the works and is expected to join the flu vaccination rotation in the fall; however, it is still best to know the facts about possible side effects as early as possible so you may make the best decision possible about this vaccination.
Tags: shot, side effects, swine flu, vaccination