Risks and Side Effects of Swine Flu Vaccine
What You Need to Know About the H1N1 Influenza Vaccination
Nov 4, 2009
Many people have questions about the swine flu vaccine and wonder if they should get it. What are the risks? How safe is it? Is it effective? Read on to find out the answers to these questions with regards to the swine flu vaccine being offered in Canada.
What Protection Does the Swine Flu Vaccine Offer?
After getting the shot, it takes about 10 days for a person to develop immunity against the swine flu virus. Studies to date have found that 85 per cent to 98 per cent of healthy adults who got an H1N1 vaccine had enough immunity to protect them from this new virus.
People who have are taking medication that impacts their immune system or people who have conditions that affect their immune system are recommended to get the vaccine, but it might not work as well.
Is the Swine Flu Vaccine Safe?
The H1N1 influenza vaccine has been found to be safe and effective in protecting people from the virus, according to studies done in several different countries. The swine flu vaccine being made for Canadians and Americans (and in most other countries) is being made by companies that produce the seasonal flu vaccines. The swine flu vaccine is made in much the same way as a regular seasonal flu vaccine is made, and seasonal flu vaccines have been safe and effective in Canada and the US for a long time.
Adjuvant in the H1N1 Vaccine in Canada
In Canada, the swine flu vaccine is made with an adjuvant. This is an ingredient that is added to the vaccine to help the body become immune to the virus and make the vaccine more effective. The adjuvant is made from naturally occurring oil, water and vitamin E. GlaxoSmithKline is supplying the vaccine for Canada and has tested this adjuvant on 45,000 people. In these studies, no safety concerns came up for healthy adults and kids. But it should also be noted that this adjuvant has only been tested on a small scale when it comes to looking at the impact it has on pregnant women and children under the age of three years old.
Risks Associated with H1N1 Flu Vaccine
The swine flu vaccine will not cause a person to become infected with the H1N1 virus. The virus is in the swine flu vaccine, but it is in trace amounts and the virus is dead. People can experience side effects after having the swine flu shot and they are similar to what one would experience with getting the seasonal flu shot.
Most Common Side Effects from Swine Flu Shot
For most people, the side effects after getting the H1N1 flu injection are minor. They include some pain, redness and swelling in the area where the shot was administered. Other common reactions are headache, fatigue and pain to muscles and joints.
Younger children can have more symptoms such as drowsiness, fever, irritability and loss of appetite, but generally these are mild. Side effects can last for about one to two days without getting any treatment from a doctor. If these symptoms last longer than that, contact the family physician.
It is very rare for people to have a serious or life-threatening reaction to getting a shot like this. In very rare cases, people have gotten a serious paralytic illness called Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) after getting a seasonal flu vaccine. Anyone of any age could possibly get GBS, but it is most common in people who are elderly.
Side Effects Reported from H1N1 Flu Vaccine
Very common Side Effects(10%)
- hard lump where shot administered
- headache
- joint pain
- pain
- tiredness
Common Side Effects (1% - 10%)
- flu-like symptoms
- increase in sweating/shivering
- itchiness or bruise at injection site
- swollen glands in the neck, armpit or groin
- warmth
Uncommon Side Effects (0.1% - 1%)
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- feeling sick
- hands or feet tingling of feeling numb
- itchy all over or rash
- sleepiness or sleeplessness
- stomach pain
- vomiting
If a person who has gotten the swine flu vaccine has any concerns about their symptoms, like they are getting worse or they are lasting longer than they should, then they should make sure to speak with their doctor.
For more information check out Swine Flu Facts, Swine Flu Vaccine in Canada, Who Should Get the Swine Flu Vaccine in Canada?
References:
Public Health Agency of Canada,H1N1 Flu Virus Vaccine, October 20, 2009.
Public Health Agency of Canada, What You Need to Know Before Receiving the H1N1 Flu Vaccine, October 20, 2009.
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