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Vaccination and side effects

 

Vaccine Side Effects

A vaccine side effect can be defined as an adverse reaction to a vaccine.
Vaccines will have some side effects such as pain, redness, swelling, or a small lump at the site of injection.
These local side effects usually resolve in a few days, although lumps may take weeks or longer to resolve.

The vaccines may also have some general side effects like fever, headache, muscle aches and pains, or a rash - these side effects may be caused by the vaccine or may be symptoms of a coincidental illness (e.g. viral infection).

Rarely, the vaccine will cause a severe allergic reaction, which is called as anaphylaxis, that begins minutes after vaccination. This includes symptoms such as severe anxiety, hives (itchy skin rash), swelling of the lips and face, difficulty breathing, or collapse. The treatment for anaphylaxis is the immediate injection of adrenaline, which stops the allergic reaction.

If a vaccine side effect occurs following one of a series of vaccinations, then, unless the side effect was severe, the series of vaccinations should be completed. If you are concerned about completing a series of vaccinations after a vaccine side effect, then consult your immunisation provider.

To reduce pain from vaccinations

Give paracetamol – do not exceed the recommended maximum dosage on the label. Doses of paracetamol should not usually be given less than 4 hours apart.

Place a cold, wet cloth over the injection site for pain, redness, or swelling. Note that some infants may not move a limb while the injection site is painful – this will resolve as the pain disappears.

To reduce fever from vaccinations :

Give extra fluids (e.g. more breast feeds or water) to prevent dehydration.

Cool the child slowly by removing extra clothing or fanning. Bathing in cool water is not recommended because it may cause shivering, which can increase the core body temperature.
Give paracetamol. The following table summarises the side effects of the scheduled vaccines. Note that the side effects may vary with the age of the person.

  Abbreviation: Hib   Abbreviation: MCCV

Vaccine	Side Effects
Full name: Diphtheria-Tetanus-  Pertussis-Polio-   Hepatitis B-Haemophilus influenzae   type b   Abbreviation: DTPa-IPV-HepB-Hib	Fever - about 1 child in 4   Soreness, redness, lump at the injection site - about 1 child in 4   Vomiting - about 1 child in 50   Prolonged crying - about 1 child in 1,000   Febrile seizure - about 1 child in 14,000   High fever (over 400C) - about 1 child in 16,000   Allergic reaction - less than 1 child in a million
Full name: Diphtheria-Tetanus-  Pertussis-Polio-Hepatitis B   Abbreviation: DTPa-IPV-HepB	Same as above
Full name: Diphtheria-Tetanus-  Pertussis-Polio   Abbreviation: DTPa-IPV	Fever, soreness, redness, lump at the injection site - about 1   child in 10   Headache, vomiting - about 1 child in 20
Full name: Adult Diphtheria-Tetanus-  Pertussis   Abbreviation: dTpa	Headache, fatigue – about 1 child in 2   Fever, soreness, lump at the injection site – about 1 child in 10
Full name: 7 valent Pneumococcal   Conjugate Vaccine   Abbreviation: 7vPCV	Fever, soreness, redness, lump   at the injection site - about 1 child in 4
Full name: Haemophilus influenzae   type b	Irritability – about 1 child in 2   Soreness, redness, lump at the injection site - about 1 child   in 4   Fever - about 1 child in 7   Vomiting, prolonged crying - about 1 child in 50
Full name: Meningococcal C Conjugate   Vaccine	Headache – about 1 older child or adult in 4   Soreness, redness, lump at the injection site - about 1 child in   10   Fever - about 1 child in 10
Full name: Measles-Mumps-Rubella   Abbreviation: MMR	Fever 5-12 days after vaccination - about 1 child in 6   Discomfort at the injection site - about 1 child in 10   Non-infectious rash 5-12 days after vaccination - about 1 child   in 20   Pain and stiffness in the joints - about 1 older child or adult in 4   Febrile seizure - about 1 child in 3,000   Thrombocytopaenia (low platelet count) - about 1 child in   30,000   Allergic reaction - less than 1 child in a million   Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) - about 1 child in 3   million
Full name: Hepatitis A   Abbreviation: HepA	Fever - about 1 child in 10   Soreness, redness, lump at the injection site - about 1 child in   20   Rash - about 1 child in 100
Full name: 23 valent Pneumococcal   Polysaccharide Vaccine   Abbreviation: 23vPPV	Soreness, redness, lump at the injection site - about 1 child in   4   Fever, muscle pain - less than 1 child in 100
Full name: Varicella (chickenpox)   Abbreviation: VZV	Soreness, redness, lump at the injection site - about 1 child in   5   Fever - about 1 child in 10   Rash - about 1 child in 20   Febrile seizure – about 1 child in 1,000
Full name: Hepatitis B   Abbreviation: HepB	Soreness at the injection site – about 1 child in 10   Fever, dizziness, tiredness, sweating, muscle pain, insomnia,   earache - less than 1 child in 100   Nausea, diarrhoea - less than 1 child in 200
Full name: Adult Diphtheria-Tetanus   Abbreviation: dT	Soreness, redness, lump at the injection site – about 1 person   in 5   Brachial neuritis (nerve inflammation) – about 1 person in   100,000
Full name: Influenza	Soreness, redness, lump at the injection site – about 1 person   in 10   Guillain-Barre Syndrome (ascending paralysis) - about 1   person in 1 million