People over age 65, residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities, people with diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, chronic severe anemia including sickle cell disease, cancer, chronic immunosuppressive disorders and pregnant women who will be in the second or third trimester during the influenza season are among those at higher risk for complications . Health care personnel who have contact with high risk patients should be vaccinated to protect themselves and their patients. The vaccine contains the types of influenza virus predicted to be present during the coming influenza season. Yearly immunization is necessary because new strains of virus develop quite often and immunity wanes. Although definitive studies have not been conducted, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention considers the influenza vaccine safe in any stage of pregnancy, but if you are pregnant, we suggest you discuss immunization with your health care provider.
Side effects are infrequent.
The few people that do notice side effects will usually experience very mild symptoms for 1-2 days, including a slight fever, tiredness, muscle ache and tenderness and redness at the injection site. A severe allergic reaction is possible, although rare, so we ask you to remain 10 minutes after your immunization for observation. Approximately one person per 100,000 who received the Swine Flu vaccine later developed Gullain-Barre Syndrome. Gullain-Barre Syndrome has not been associated with the recent flu vaccines, but individuals with a past history of GBS should discuss immunization with their health care provider. I have read the above statement about the Trivalent Influenza Vaccine and have had the opportunity to ask questions.