b. Influenza Vaccine. Be sure that people with a true, severe allergy to chicken
or its by-products are evaluated before receiving this vaccine. Mild symptoms or
reactions in the general population may frequently be controlled with aspirin or
acetaminophen.
c. Plague Vaccine. About ten percent of the people receiving plague vaccine
will experience general malaise, headache, local erythema (skin redness), and
induration (an abnormal hard spot), mild lymph node involvement, and fever.
Individuals sensitive to the vaccine become more sensitive with subsequent vaccine
doses. For this reason, the dose for booster injections is reduced in volume and only
given intramuscularly. Additionally, boosters are given only to people living in areas
where plague exists and not more often than every six months. Once a basic series
has been given, it should not be repeated regardless of the length of time since the
completion of the basic series.
1-16. REACTIONS/SIDE EFFECTS
Immunizations for these diseases may cause reactions and/or side effects.
a. Diphtheria. Reactions are extremely rare. However, using pediatric
preparations on adults can cause severe reactions.
b. Pertussis. It is fairly common to have these side effects: local induration
and tenderness at the injection site; malaise; and mild to moderate fever. In rare
instances (usually with DPT), severe reactions can occur such as the following:
(1)
Pronounced fever--105 F.
(2)
Collapse with rapid recovery.
(3)
Screaming episodes.
(4)
Isolated convulsions.
(5) Encephalopathy--disfunction of the brain to include changes in level of
consciousness and focal neurological signs such as quivering of an extremity,
convulsions.
(6)
Thrombocytopenic purpura--hemorrhage in the skin.
c. Tetanus. Side effects include local induration and tenderness plus a mild
fever. An adverse reaction which rarely occurs is urticaria (a vascular reaction of the
skin marked by the temporary appearance of smooth, slightly elevated patches (wheals
or hives) which are redder or paler than the surrounding skin and often attended by
severe itching).
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