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Vaccine injury

Definition

A vaccine reaction is any injury or condition that occurs as a result of a vaccination that has been given to protect against disease. Serious reactions to vaccines are very rare, and vaccination is far less risky than the catching the disease it prevents.

Alternative Names

Vaccine injury

Symptoms

NORMAL REACTION TO DTaP IMMUNIZATION

Mild fever
Irritability
Localized tenderness and swelling at site of injection

ABNORMAL REACTION TO DTaP IMMUNIZATION

Unrelieved crying
High-pitched cry
Unusual shock-like syndrome
- Unresponsiveness
- Hypotonia (limp/decreased tone)
Marked increase in sleeping time
Persistent high fever (104 degrees Fahrenheit or greater)
Seizure or convulsion

NORMAL REACTION TO MMR

Fever up to 103 degrees about 7-10 days after vaccine administration
Mild measles rash (reaction to measles vaccine)
Transient joint pains (reaction to rubella vaccine)

Note: Several groups have said that the rise of autism in the United States is due to MMR vaccinations. However, very detailed scientific study has shown this to be untrue.

ABNORMAL REACTION TO POLIO VACCINE

Anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock

NORMAL REACTION TO PREVNAR (PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE)

Fever

Exams and Tests

Testing is usually unnecessary.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the type of symptom observed following immunization. Fever is normally treated with acetaminophen and cool sponge baths. Children with seizures must be seen by a health care provider promptly. Children who develop encephalitis will be hospitalized.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Very few children who receive standard childhood vaccines develop significant problems following immunization. For children who develop problems, standard fever care and a call to the health care provider for reassurance often suffice.

Possible Complications

Abscess (pus) at site of immunization is a possible complication of vaccination. Other complications are the same as symptoms

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if you feel that your child is having an adverse reaction to immunizations.

Prevention

Considering the severity of the diseases that childhood immunizations prevent, the risk of the disease is far greater than the risk of injury from the vaccine. The incidence of vaccine-related injury is extremely low.

Newer vaccines, such as the diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) and inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) vaccines, produce fewer side effects than those used in the past.

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act track and record reactions to vaccines. Doctors are required to record complete information about the vaccines they are using and supply this information to VAERS, along with any reports of injury.

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