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ARE ADVERSE REACTIONS TO FLU VACCINE A MYTH.

About two thirds of high-risk persons for whom influenza vaccination is recommended do not receive it, often because of concerns about possible side effects. To determine whether the vaccine really causes a flu-like syndrome or other complications, these investigators performed a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial in 336 elderly outpatients at a Veterans Administration hospital. Subjects received either influenza vaccine (the 1988-1989 trivalent split-antigen vaccine) followed 2 weeks later by a placebo injection, or a placebo injection followed 2 weeks later by the vaccine.

Arm soreness occurred more often after vaccine injection than after placebo injection (20 vs. 5 percent), but no significant differences were detected in rates of flu-like symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, or headache. The authors conclude that influenza vaccination does not produce systemic side effects in the elderly, and suggest that heightened somatic awareness after vaccination may contribute to the frequent complaint of flu-like symptoms.

— THL

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine September 14, 1990

Citation(s):

Margolis KL et al. Frequency of adverse reactions to influenza vaccine in the elderly. JAMA 1990 Sep 5 264 1139-1141.

• Medline abstract (Free)