What are the side effects of the influenza vaccine? Are there contraindications?
Possible side effects are usually mild and can include a local reaction at the injection site (soreness, redness or swelling) and low grade fever or muscle aches that may last for a few days. Very rarely, allergic reactions can occur among people with severe allergy to eggs, as the viruses used in the vaccine are grown in hens’ eggs. The possibility of a very rare association (one in one million vaccinees) with Guillain-Barré Syndrome has been suggested. As a precautionary measure, vaccination is generally not advised for women in their first trimester of pregnancy and for children <6 months old.
