Seasonal Flu Vaccine Information

Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently. Millions of people get flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands to tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu. Seasonal flu vaccination has been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and even the risk of flu-related death in children and adults. Any other type of pain other than the typical “pinch” or mild soreness after a flu shot may be symptomatic of a flu vaccine injury or illness.

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program may provide compensation for:
(1) anaphylaxis, which is an acute allergic reaction to the antigen in the vaccine;
(2) Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine, known as SIRVA, which is a sometimes painful injury to the shoulder where the vaccine was administered;
(3) Vasovagal Syncope, which is when a person faints because his or her body overreacts to certain triggers, such as the sight of blood or extreme emotional distress; and
(4) Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), which is a rare disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks its nerves.