Influenza or the “flu” is a common contagious disease that spreads around the United States every year, typically between October and May. The flu is caused by the influenza viruses, and is spread mainly by coughing, sneezing, and close contact between individuals. Flu symptoms can vary by age but can result in fever, chills, runny nose, sore throat, head ache, coughing, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. The flu can also in certain circumstances lead to more serious conditions such as pneumonia, blood infections, and seizures. Certain groups of people and those individuals with a pre-existing medical condition are at a greater risk for developing more severe complications from the flu. This would typically include young children, people 65 years of age and older, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions or a weakened immune system. Flu vaccines work by causing antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination which provide protection against infection. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months receive the seasonal influenza vaccine.
The influenza vaccine or flu shot has been known, however, to cause serious adverse reactions in certain individuals. Some of the more severe conditions include:
- Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) or Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
- Shoulder Injuries (SIRVA)
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis
- Adhesive Capsulitis
- Frozen Shoulder
- Brachial Neuritis
- Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS)
- Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
- Transverse Myelitis (TM)
- Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
- Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)
- Seizures
- Encephalopathy
- Other Allergic Reactions
This is not an exhaustive list of severe side effects that have been linked to the flu vaccine. If you or a loved one sustained an injury or started experiencing symptoms after receiving the flu shot, please contact our Vaccine Injury Attorneys as you may be entitled to compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP).