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Flu Vaccine Complications

You can take flu vaccine either as a shot in the arm or by means of a nasal spray. The two contain different types of virus--a killed virus in the shot and a weakened live virus in the nasal spray. Each is designed to help the body develop antibodies to the flu virus. Complications may differ depending on the version. They are usually mild, but on occasion other complications may occur.

  1. Guidelines Based on Potential Complications

    • Normally, the flu shot with inactivated virus can be given to a healthy person older than six months and even most who have chronic medical conditions. The nasal spray with a weakened virus has more limited approved and is only recommended for healthy people from two to 49 who are not pregnant.

    Minor Soreness at Injection Site

    • The viruses in the flu shot are inactivated so they cannot cause the flu and many people have no reaction at all. However, reactions to the flu shot include minor irritation, such as a red mark or swelling at the site where where the shot was injected.

    Muscle Aches or Fever

    • A person may also feel some minor muscle aches or develop a low fever either from the shot or the mist. These symptoms resolve themselves within a day or two.

    Symptoms of the Flu

    • The flu shot is composed of dead virus so it cannot cause the flu. However, the nasal spray vaccine does contain a weak form of the virus. While it does not normally cause the flu, in a few cases it might cause some related symptoms for example, congestion with a runny nose, sore throat or headache.

    Allergies

    • Certain people can be allergic to the vaccine, especially those who are allergic to chicken eggs. Such reactions could be severe so those who know they have the allergy should avoid taking the vaccine.

    Guillain-Barre Syndrome

    • A rare potential exists to develop Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)--a condition that causes fever and neurological damage--after innoculation with the flu vaccine. Largely, this relationship occurs with swine flu shots, not the regular flu vaccine. However, one study did show that out of a million people, one risk developing GBS.

    Theories/Speculation

    • Some people have raised safety issues citing a wide variety of other concerns from encephalitis to respiratory infections, neurological to gastrointestinal symptoms, dizziness, nausea, hearing and eye problems and mental problems. The connections are wide and varied and not well associated with the vaccine.

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