April 2007
Inactivated influenza vaccine
When should my child not get inactivated influenza vaccine? Your child should not get inactivated influenza vaccine if he has ever had:
When should my child wait to get inactivated influenza vaccine? If your child is moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled, he should usually wait until he is well before
getting inactivated influenza vaccine. Check with your child's doctor to see whether he should wait.
Tell your child's doctor if the child has any of the following conditions. The doctor may recommend that the child wait or not receive influenza vaccine. Ask your doctor for more information if your child:
What are the side effects from inactivated influenza vaccine and what should I do if they occur? A vaccine, like any medication, may cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of inactivated influenza
vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. The viruses in inactivated influenza vaccine have been killed,
so someone cannot get influenza ("flu") from the vaccine. Any colds or other upper respiratory illnesses that may occur soon
after getting this vaccine are just a coincidence. However, inactivated influenza vaccine can cause other side effects. Call
your child's doctor if he has any unusual problems after receiving this vaccine.
- A life-threatening allergic reaction to a previous dose of inactivated influenza vaccine
- A life-threatening allergic reaction to eggs, egg products, or chicken
- Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS, a condition of paralysis and loss of reflexes)
Tell your child's doctor if the child has any of the following conditions. The doctor may recommend that the child wait or not receive influenza vaccine. Ask your doctor for more information if your child:
- Has HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system
- Is being treated with medications that affect the immune system, such as steroids, for two weeks or longer
- Has any type of cancer
- Is receiving cancer treatment with X-rays or medications
- Has or has had a neurologic (brain) disorder
- Has a low platelet count (a blood disorder that may cause unusual bruising or bleeding)
- Has a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia
- Is receiving anticoagulant (blood thinner) medication such as warfarin (Coumadin)
- Has had a reaction to any vaccine
| Side Effects (Mild) | What should I do? |
|---|---|
| Fever (usually begins soon after shot and lasts 1-2 days) | Give acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) as directed by your child’s doctor |
| Muscle aches (usually begin soon after shot and last 1-2 days) | Give acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) as directed by your child’s doctor |
| Soreness, redness, pain, or swelling where the shot was given (usually begin soon after shot and last 1-2 days) | Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the sore area. Give acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) for pain, as directed by your child’s doctor. Call the doctor if the symptoms get worse or do not go away |
| Rash | Call your child’s doctor if rash gets worse or does not go away |
| Tiredness (usually begins soon after shot and lasts 1-2 days) | Call your child’s doctor if this symptom gets worse or does not go away |
| Side Effects (Moderate or Severe) | What should I do? |
| Unusual changes in behavior | Call your child’s doctor |
| Serious allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; hoarseness or wheezing; hives; swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, or feet; paleness; weakness; fast heartbeat; or dizziness within a few hours after the shot) | Get emergency medical care for your child right away |
| High fever | Call your child’s doctor right away |
