Flu Vaccine Adverse Reactions
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program currently provides compensation for injuries caused by adverse reactions to trivalent influenza vaccine. Of the two types of influenza vaccines are routinely given to millions of individuals in the United States each year, both are trivalent. The two types of flu vaccine include an inactivated (killed) virus vaccine administered using a syringe, and a live, attenuated product administered in a nasal spray. Both vaccine types are trivalent, meaning that they each contain three vaccine virus strains which are thought most likely to cause disease outbreaks during the influenza season. While trivalent vaccines are commonly used for yearly influenza vaccine campaigns, a monovalent product may sometimes be used if it appears that one strain has the potential to cause widespread disease. Such was the case in 1976–1977 when Swine flu influenza virus was thought to have potential to cause a worldwide pandemic. Bivalent influenza vaccines have also been used in the past, although infrequently.
Sanofi Pasteur, Chiron Vaccines, and Wyeth Lederle Vaccines manufacture almost all of the flu vaccine administered in the United States.A wide range of adverse reactions have been linked to the flu vaccine, including: arthritis, anosmia (loss of sense of smell), cerebellar ataxia, cryoglobulinemia, dermatomyositis, encephalitis, erythromelalgia, Guillain-Barre syndrome, hemiparesis, lupus, meningoencephalitis, mononeuropathy, myelitis, myelopathy, neuropathy, pericarditis, ocular abnormalities, optic neuritis, polyangiitis, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and vasculitis. However, as is the case with almost all vaccine reactions, few conclusive links have been made as little research has been done into adverse reactions caused by the vaccine.
Our Firm represents a number of petitioners bringing claims of adverse reactions to the flu vaccine. If you believe that you or your child had an adverse reaction to the flu vaccine, please click here for our vaccine case evaluation form.