Every year the media explodes with the call to get the flu vaccine. Public health officials advocate for the flu shot because each year between 5 % and 20% of the population will contract the flu. Unfortunately, the rare, but serious adverse reactions to the flu vaccine are rarely, if at all, discussed. However, a reaction to a flu shot can be just as costly. Every year the Centers for Disease Control works overtime to encourage all citizens to be vaccinated against the flu.

While most people do not suffer reactions to flu vaccine, there are those who are now faced with serious disabilities thanks to a reaction to the flu shot.  A lifelong disabling reaction to flu vaccine includes sudden onset illnesses that effect the nervous system–particularly flu vaccine Guillain Barre syndrome, brachial neuritis, CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy), and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM).

Reaction To Flu Vaccine: Symptoms Are Often Dismissed

Symptoms of Flu shot reactions usually occur within the first 30 days. For example, flu vaccine Guillain Barre will usually start within 2 weeks. Many physicians dismiss the appearance of a reaction to flu vaccine as it develops over the weeks after receiving flu shot.

Flu Vaccine Injuries

• Guillain Barre
• Brachial Neuritis
• CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy)
• Injury to the brain (Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis – ADEM)
• Arm injury from the needle itself (called SIRVA)[/content_box]

Symptoms of Flu Vaccine Injury

• Numbness in hands and feet
• Tingling in hands and feet
• Weakness
• Abnormal reflexes
• Trouble breathing
• Trouble speaking
• Trouble swallowing
• Trouble chewing
• Trouble with eyesight
• Pain

Flu Vaccine Guillain Barre: Your Body Attacks Itself

Flu vaccine Guillain Barre syndrome is one of the most common reported reaction to the flu shot.

GBS is a condition where the body’s immune system attacks the nerves. Most commonly, flu vaccine Guillain Barre begins in the legs and feet with tingling, weakness and loss of control– but can quickly progress up the body effecting the muscles that control breathing which makes the condition a serious medical emergency.

Many patients who develop flu vaccine Guillain Barre must be placed on a respirator to help them breathe until the condition begins to resolve. For some who have had flu vaccine Guillain Barre, permanent weakness will never go away and will require assistance for walking and daily tasks.

CIDP: GBS That Keeps Going

Chronic Inflammatory Polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a cousin to flu vaccine Guillain Barre. CIDP is similar in action to GBS, effecting multiple nerves throughout the body with a couple of important differences.

The main difference between the two is that CIDP often lasts longer than flu vaccine Guillain Barre and is in fact usually permanent. In some cases, patients who suffer from CIDP may have times when symptoms will resolve only to recur. CIDP often results in permanent paralysis and loss of muscle mass in varying degrees. It may effect only the lower extremities or the entire body in some form.

Brachial Neuritis : Serious Arm Pain and Muscle Wasting

Conditions like Brachial Neuritis (BN) have also been found to occur after flu vaccination. The condition, which is thought to also be caused by an immune triggered response causes severe pain and nerve damage to the muscles of the neck and shoulder that often prevent use of the arm and could lead to muscle wasting. Muscle wasting is

Shoulder Injury After Vaccination : The Needle Hits The Wrong Spot

The needle itself has been recognized as a potential danger of receiving the flu vaccine. In this case, the needle itself injures the muscle or joint of the shoulder or arm injected with the flu vaccine.

Based on a survey completed by Medical News Today, 30% of Americans said that they would not be getting a flu vaccine this year citing fears about reaction to flu vaccine, like flu vaccine Guillain Barre. The government’s exaggerated fears of a pandemic and the desire to boost their own immune function naturally. Though not all of these reasons are scientifically proven to be accurate, each person has the right to choose.