Rare Disorder Associated With Flu Vaccine


Few people like to get immunizations because they have to be given a shot. Needles and people do not mix well at all. Oftentimes we use reasons for not getting immunizations. One common reason is that the vaccine can have side effects and cause other problems. As a result people who really really need to get a particular vaccine avoid getting it.

One side effect associated with the Flu vaccine is a condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome. It is a condition that affects the nerves of a person and can cause localized paralysis. About 80 percent of those that get Guillain-Barre will recover completely after a few months of symptoms.

People sometimes use this as a reason not to get the Flu vaccine. However, a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine (12/17/98) indicates that the risk of getting Guillain-Barre from the Flu vaccine is 1.7 cases per million people immunized. In other words about 60 to 70 cases of Guillian-Barre are likely to occur in the United States this year due to the Flu vaccination. HOWEVER, 20,000 people DIE each year from the FLU.  Ninety percent of the people who die from the Flu each year are over the age of 65.

Getting the Flu is much more dangerous to your health than is getting the Flu vaccine. The chances of getting Guillian-Barre syndrome is a one in a million. The odds of winning the lottery are better than getting Guillian-Barre from the Flu vaccine. Therefore, make sure you get your flu shot next year and every year if you are over 65 years of age or if your physician advises you get this vaccine. It could save your life.

Knowledge is power. Go get some more power at the following Web sites!

  1. Practical tips to Avoid the Flu!

  2. Associated Press story

  3. FluNet news from around the world on outbreaks of the Flu.

  4. Influenzanews an educational resource to learn more about the Flu virus, fact, figures, etc.
Take Care and Think Microbiologically!
The copyright of the article Rare Disorder Associated With Flu Vaccine in Microbiology is owned by Neal Rolfe Chamberlain. Permission to republish Rare Disorder Associated With Flu Vaccine in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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