Long Term H1N1 Vaccine Side Effects and Risks
Complications and Dangers from the Swine Flu Shot or Nasal Spray
Nov 11, 2009
Immediate side effects from the swine flu vaccines have been mostly local, with various severe side effects being reported as well. Allergic reactions and chemical sensitivities may be responsible for the majority of immediate symptoms that have been identified. Other risks associated with previous flu vaccinations include nerve disease and an increase in hospitalization risk, particularly for asthmatic children.
Allergies Cause Swine Flu Vaccine Reactions
There are a number of ingredients in the various swine flu vaccines that cause allergic reactions. The viruses used to create flu vaccinations are grown in chicken eggs. This process leaves traces of egg protein in the flu vaccine, which can cause allergic reactions in some people. In addition, many formulations of the vaccine contain antibiotics, which may cause reactions in some. Other ingredients that can cause reactions in those who receive the swine flu vaccine include:
- monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- formaldehyde
- gelatin
- thimerosal
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a nerve disease that has been associated with surgery and immunizations. In particular, several hundred individuals contracted Guillain-Barré Syndrome after the last mass swine flu immunization, which occurred in 1976. This condition causes weakness and numbness in the lower limbs, which can spread upward through the body. Some individuals are affected so severely that they require hospitalization and artificial respiration. People who are afflicted with this condition often recover fully over time, but some experience permanent nerve damage.
Increased Hospitalization for Children
A study published in 2009 by the American Thoracic Society evaluated all children seen at the Mayo Clinic for flu symptoms over an eight-year period. Children who were hospitalized due to the severity of their influenza were three times more likely to have received a flu vaccination. Asthmatic children who had received the flu vaccine were hospitalized at an even greater rate. While the study does not conclude that a flu vaccination causes hospitalization, the study authors do conclude that vaccination does not provide any protection against hospitalization for flu complications.
There have been no long term studies to demonstrate the percentage of children hospitalized after receiving the swine flu vaccine. However, all safety studies that are quoted by the CDC are based on previous formulations of flu vaccines. According to the CDC, the swine flu is produced by the same methods, and uses the same ingredients as the seasonal flu vaccine. This makes the H1N1 vaccine identical in all aspects to other vaccines that have been produced and administered every year for the seasonal flu.
References:
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
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