Age: 57.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: VARZOS
Symptoms: Chills, Erythema, Inadequate aseptic technique in use of product, Injection site discolouration, Injection site erythema
Clinical narrative: I did not feel well the morning following the injection.  I attributed it as a mild side effect and went to work on 9-6.  Early in the afternoon I began experiencing severe chills and by 5:00 pm I was on the couch.  My arm was sore and had a large red lump.  I checked my temperature at approximately 9:30 pm and had a fever of 102.4.  I treated the fever with ibuprofen and it persisted throughout the night.  My temperature came down to around 99 by 8:00 am on 9-7.  I phoned the clinic and advised medical staff of the problem.  I was told to use ice on the injection site and continue with ibuprofen if needed.  The redness and swelling in my arm continued to increase and remained hot to the touch. By the morning of 9-8 redness began developing in a secondary area of my left arm approximately 4" below the injection site.  The initial spot was approximately the size of a quarter and continued to spread throughout the day.  Both areas remained red, sore and hot to the touch.  I continued applying ice to the arm as instructed.  On the morning of 9-9, I awoke to find the secondary area had grown in size to be approximately 4" wide and 2 1/2" to 3" tall.  The areas were still very red, sore and hot to the touch.  I phoned the clinic once again to advise the medical providers of the change in the condition and was told I should be seen.  I visited the clinic that morning and was seen by two providers.  I was told that this was merely an injection site reaction and that it was "normal".  I was told to take antihistamines and continue icing.  An appointment was made for 9-13 if needed.  The pain in these areas did not subside and remained hot to the touch throughout 9-11.  The initial injection site was less red on 9-12 and I cancelled the appointment with the clinic.  The secondary site has been slow to recover with the lump and redness persisting through 9-23.  The skin then became flaky and discolored and there is an indentation approximately 1" high and 4" wide across my bicep with a lump directly below.  It appears there has been some type of tissue damage in this area and I do have continued pain and discomfort at this secondary site on my left arm.  I do not believe proper protocol was utilized in the administration of this vaccine.  The person administering the vaccine brought an uncovered syringe into the room, set it on the counter to look for a band aid, and stuck the opened band aid on her finger.  She was not wearing gloves and did not swab the injection site.  My deltoid was pinched tightly and the vaccine administered.  It was painful from the outset.  This was a stark contrast to the easy painless experience I had with the first vaccine two months prior.  I do not believe that large red hot areas encompassing most of the upper arm can be deemed a normal injection site reaction.  I was repeatedly told that the reaction was "better than having the shingles".  I disagree - I have had the shingles twice in the last four years and the fever and lingering pain in my arm has been worse.