Below is a listing of seasonal (influenza A and B) flu vaccines.Did your doctor discuss these with you? Did you consider these possible adverse reactions and the actual (proven) benefits of the vaccine? Did your doctor give you a WRITTEN sheet with the PROVEN benefits of the vaccine? I truly doubt it, because very little has been PROVEN. If this is true of a vaccine that has been around a long time, how much do you think the feds REALLY know about the H1N1 vaccine?

 

Flu Vaccine FluMist

Influenza Virus Vaccine Live, Intranasal

by Medimmune Vaccines, Inc.

Ingredients*: Chick Kidney Cells, Egg Protein, Gentamicin Sulfate, Monosodium Glutamate, Sucrose Phosphate Glutamate Buffer.

Published data** (including side effects, adverse effects, potential adverse effects, reactions, reports, experiences, observations or occurrences after vaccination and post marketing experience from Manufacturer Prescribing Information):

Wheezing, significant respiratory symptoms, hypersensitivity, including anaphylactic reaction, hospitalizations ("Most hospitalizations observed were gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections and occurred more than 6 weeks post-vaccination." p.2 pp.17), runny nose, nasal congestion, decreased appetite, irritability, decreased activity (lethargy), sore throat, headache, muscle aches, chills, fever, sneezing, tiredness/weakness, cough, chills, sinusitis, exacerbation of symptoms of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy (Leigh syndrome), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anaphylactic reaction, facial edema and urticaria, Guillain-Barré syndrome, Bell's palsy, epistaxis, rash, herpes zoster [shingles].

Other Highlights: From the Manufacturer Prescribing Information***:

  1. "Do not administer FluMist to children <24 months of age because of increased risk of hospitalization and wheezing observed in clinical trials. (p.1 pp.6)

  2. "FluMist should not be administered to any individuals with asthma or children <5 years of age with recurrent wheezing because of the potential for increased risk of wheezing post-vaccination." (p.1 pp.6)

  3. FluMist has not been evaluated for its carcinogenic [cancer causing] or mutagenic [DNA altering] potential or its potential to impair fertility." (p.3 pp.16)

Flu Vaccine, FLUVIRIN®

(Flu)  Influenza Virus Vaccine

by Chiron Vaccines Ltd. / Novartis

 

Ingredients*:  Thimerosal [a preservative that is approximately 50% mercury by weight] (single dose and multidose), Beta-Propiolactone, Egg Protein, Neomycin, Polymyxin b, Polyoxyethylene 9-10 nonyl phenol (Triton N-101, Octoxynol 9).

Published data** (including side effects, adverse effects, potential adverse effects, reactions, reports, experiences, observations or occurrences after vaccination and post marketing experience from Manufacturer Prescribing Information):

Soreness, body aches, local pain and swelling, fever, malaise, myalgia, fever, irritability, Guillain-Barré syndrome, insomnia, seizure, erthema.  [NOTE: There were no post-marketing adverse events offered on the prescribing instructions.  However, there ere many safety statements that referred to a CDC/ACIP document with suggested guidelines for use – which is not the same as specific studies about this vaccine.]

Other Highlights: From the Manufacturer Prescribing Information***:

  1. “Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with FLUVIRIN®. It is also not known whether FLUVIRIN® can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity." (p.3 pp.13). 

  2. "The safety and immunogenicity of FLUVIRIN® have not been established in children <4 years of age." (p.3 pp.14) 

  3. “Influenza virus is propagated in eggs for the preparation of influenza virus vaccine, thus, this vaccine should not be administered to anyone with a history of hypersensitivity [allergy] to chicken eggs, chicken, chicken feathers or chicken dander." (p.3 pp.8)

Flu Vaccine FLUZONE®

Influenza Virus Vaccine

by Sanofi Pasteur Inc.

Ingredients*: Thimerosal [a preservative that is approximately 50% mercury by weight], egg protein, formaldehyde or formalin, gelatin, octoxinol-9 (Triton X-100).

Published data** (including side effects, adverse effects, potential adverse effects, reactions, reports, experiences, observations or occurrences after vaccination and post marketing experience from Manufacturer Prescribing Information):

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), thrombocytopenia, lymphadenopathy, anaphylaxis, urticaria, angioedema, convulsions, myelitis (including encephalomyelitis and transverse myelitis), facial palsy (Bell's palsy), optic neuritis/neuropathy, brachial neuritis, syncope, (shortly after vaccination), dizziness, paresthesia, vasculitis, vasodilatation/flushing, dyspnea, pharyngitis, rhinitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, fever, pain, prurtis, asthenia/fatigue, pain in extremities, (related to egg allergy) chest pain, hives, angioedema, allergic asthma, systemic anaphylaxis.  Neurological disorders temporally associated with influenza vaccination such as encephalopathy, optic neuritis/neuropathy, partial facial paralysis, and brachial plexus neuropathy have been reported.

Other Highlights: From the Manufacturer Prescribing Information***:

  1. "FLUZONE® vaccine has not been evaluated for carcinogenic [cancer causing] or mutagenic [DNA altering] potential, or for impairment of fertility." (p3. pp27.) 

  2. Pediatric use: "The immune response and safety of FLUZONE vaccine was evaluated in 31 children between the ages of 6-26 months." (p.4 pp16.)