H1N1 Vaccine Reaction Stories

[Ambrocious]

This is something interesting that I think you all should know about. Watch these videos. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk5Mcx5bVAU]H1N1 Vaccine Reaction Pt1[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgtyUHdejOQ]H1N1 Vaccine Reaction Pt2[/ame]

Heads up.

 

[cityboy-stl]

I've been getting seasonal flu shots for years and never had any reaction. I actually got the swine flu shot back in the 70's and had no reaction to it either. Supposedly H1N1 vaccine is made the same as the seasonal but who knows since they appear to have rushed it so much. It is very sad that some people are hurt by something that is supposed to help.

 

[mrcorbin]

Not that these stories are not true..but I had both the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 shot this year because I am in the healthcare field and I did not have any reaction - nor did anyone I know at the hospital. GlaxoSmithKline is not out to kill people and they are not the enemy!

 

[KaraBulut]

Number of flu-related hospitalizations in the US between Aug 30, 2009 - Nov 14, 2009: 26,315

Number of deaths in the US between Aug 30, 2009 - Nov 14, 2009 with confirmed influenza: 1,049

Number of H1N1 doses shipped in the US: 46 million

Number of deaths reported as possibly related to the vaccine as of Nov 20, 2009: 11

 

[3nipples]

I had the vaccine about 10 days ago, the one from GlaxoSmithKline. I had a bit of a sluggish head, not quite a headache, for a couple of days and a bit of soreness around where the puncture was, but nothing dramatic.

 

[GM1985]

The chance of having a reaction to any flu vaccine is very low, I really despise people making such a big deal out of it!

I mean, fine if you've experienced it, bad luck, its not gonna kill you!

People act like getting a vaccination or the infection itself is the worst thing on earth!

 

[LukiusCurtiss]

I was quite skeptical at getting the nasal spray vaccine, but the school offered it for free; so I was like what the hell and got it. As expected nothing happened, but knowing I at least made an attempt in preventing the virus I feel much safer. Got to say I like the nasal spray better than getting a shot.

 

[Zingerific]

I too got both the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines. I didn't have any adverse effects.

 

[seven_sins]

I too got both the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines. I didn't have any adverse effects.

Same here.

 

[AlmondMilk]

I don't understand why people waited so long to get the seasonal flu shot. I work at a doctor's office, and all of these patients who didn't want the flu shot when we had it readily available are coming back asking for it now when we're out. Stinks that we're not getting another shipment.

 

[thermodynamics]

If you got the shot, it's impossible to get the flu from the flu shot, H1N1 or seasonal. But many people have an immune response to the vaccine that makes them think they have the flu, even though it's just the immune system responding to a potential foe.

 

[milboy]

I got the H1N1 flu shot yesterday; shot hurt more than a regular seasonal flu shot. Today; I feel like crap. Muscles ache all over my body, headache, chills.

I got the seasonal flu shot last month; totally no side effects.

 

[KaraBulut]

I got the H1N1 flu shot yesterday; shot hurt more than a regular seasonal flu shot. Today; I feel like crap. Muscles ache all over my body, headache, chills.

I got the seasonal flu shot last month; totally no side effects.

H1N1 shots are causing more local reactions and general flu symptoms than typical. It's actually a good sign and indicates that your body is having an immune response and building immunity to the virus.

Take acetaminophen and get some rest. The flu-like symptoms usually last 1-2 days.

 

[cardshark]

H1N1 shots are causing more local reactions and general flu symptoms than typical. It's actually a good sign and indicates that your body is having an immune response and building immunity to the virus.

Take acetaminophen and get some rest. The flu-like symptoms usually last 1-2 days.

But, I took the shot and didn't have any reaction. Does that mean my body did not build immunity to the virus?

 

[KaraBulut]

But, I took the shot and didn't have any reaction. Does that mean my body did not build immunity to the virus?

No, it just means that your immune reaction wasn't as severe. This could be because you had partial immunity from a prior influenza type A exposure or you could be genetically less reactive to H1N1.

This is the same flu that made the rounds between 1976-1978. Most people in the US were immunized against it in 1976-1977. However, both you and Milboy are too young and you would not have had the 1976 shot that would have offered partial immunity to the 2009 strain.

What some of the studies are saying is that people who have had prior exposure to similar strains of influenza have less of a flu-like reaction to the flu vaccine. So, it's possible that you had an A type flu that provided you partial immunity. Because your body had been exposed to a virus that was similar, it did not mount a significant reaction to the shot.

One of the things that made H1N1 particularly worrisome is that in some people, infection with this strain triggers a severe immunological response. In the 1918 H1N1 pandemic, it's estimated that over 50 million people died. The leading cause of death was a severe auto-immune type reaction that caused pneumonia. This is why there were so many deaths in otherwise healthy adults and why entire families were wiped out.

We don't know why some people have severe reactions to some of these strains while others had a more normal case of the flu. But for someone like Milboy, the reaction that he had to the shot is probably an indication that he would have had a very severe case of H1N1 if he had actually contracted this strain of flu. So, while it's no fun to feel crappy for a couple of days after the immunization, it's a lot milder than the actual flu would have been.

 

[cardshark]

No, it just means that your immune reaction wasn't as severe. This could be because you had partial immunity from a prior influenza type A exposure or you could be genetically less reactive to H1N1.

This is the same flu that made the rounds between 1976-1978. Most people in the US were immunized against it in 1976-1977. However, both you and Milboy are too young and you would not have had the 1976 shot that would have offered partial immunity to the 2009 strain.

What some of the studies are saying is that people who have had prior exposure to similar strains of influenza have less of a flu-like reaction to the flu vaccine. So, it's possible that you had an A type flu that provided you partial immunity. Because your body had been exposed to a virus that was similar, it did not mount a significant reaction to the shot.

One of the things that made H1N1 particularly worrisome is that in some people, infection with this strain triggers a severe immunological response. In the 1918 H1N1 pandemic, it's estimated that over 50 million people died. The leading cause of death was a severe auto-immune type reaction that caused pneumonia. This is why there were so many deaths in otherwise healthy adults and why entire families were wiped out.

We don't know why some people have severe reactions to some of these strains while others had a more normal case of the flu. But for someone like Milboy, the reaction that he had to the shot is probably an indication that he would have had a very severe case of H1N1 if he had actually contracted this strain of flu. So, while it's no fun to feel crappy for a couple of days after the immunization, it's a lot milder than the actual flu would have been.

Wow, thank you for that very thorough response! I remember when I was younger, I did have the flu. That's probably why my response to the H1N1 shot was not noticeable. I'm not sure if it makes a difference, but I also have been getting the regular seasonal flu shot for the past 10 years or so (except this year, since the government has not issued it as yet).

And good on Milboy for getting the shot, it might have saved your life! Hopefully others will stumble upon KaraBulut's post and it will encourage them to get it as well.