The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends that children receive ten different vaccinations from birth through the age of six. Millions of children receive these vaccinations every year, and the vast majority of them experience little to no side effects as a result of being vaccinated. In fact, on a percentage basis, the risks of vaccination are so low that the CDC reports that it is much safer for children to receive vaccinations than it is for them to carry the risk of contracting a preventable disease such as the measles or Hepatitis B.
Unfortunately, while the risks of being vaccinated are low, risks do remain. Many children and adults suffer from vaccine-related injuries every year. This article outlines many of the most common risks associated with vaccines recommended for children under the age of seven.
Risks Associated With Early Childhood Vaccines
Hepatitis B Vaccine
Recommended Dose(s): Three doses at birth, between one and two months and between six and eighteen months of age.
Risks Include: Soreness at the injection site, fever, severe allergic reaction.
Rotavirus Vaccine
Recommended Dose(s): Three doses at two, four, and six months of age.
Risks Include: Irritability, diarrhea, vomiting, intussusception, severe allergic reaction.
Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (DTaP) Vaccine
Recommended Dose(s): Five doses at two, four, and six months, between fifteen and eighteen months and between four and six years of age.
Risks Include: Fever, redness, swelling, soreness, tenderness, fatigue, poor appetite, vomiting, seizures, coma, brain damage, severe allergic reaction.
Haemophilus Influenza Type B (Hib) Vaccine
Recommended Dose(s): Four doses at two, four, six and twelve to fifteen months of age.
Risks Include: Redness, swelling, fever, severe allergic reaction.
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV)
Recommended Dose(s): Four doses at two, four, six and twelve to fifteen months of age.
Risks Include: Fever, seizures, drowsiness, loss of appetite, swelling, irritability, severe allergic reaction.
Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV)
Recommended Dose(s): Four doses at two and four months, between six and eighteen months and at four to six years of age.
Risks Include: Soreness, severe allergic reaction.
Influenza Vaccine (Flu Shot)
Recommended Dose(s): Annually beginning at six months of age.
Risks Include: Soreness, redness, swelling, red and itchy eyes, cough, fever, headache, fatigue, Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS), seizures, severe allergic reaction.
Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine
Recommended Dose(s): Two doses between twelve and fifteen months and four to six years of age.
Risks Include: Fever, rash, swelling of the glands in the neck or cheeks, seizure, joint pain and stiffness, low platelet count, deafness, seizures, brain damage, severe allergic reaction.
Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine
Recommended Dose(s): Two doses between twelve and fifteen months and four to six years of age.
Risks Include: Soreness, swelling, fever, rash, seizures, pneumonia, severe allergic reaction.
Hepatitis A Vaccine
Recommended Dose(s): One dose between twelve and twenty-three months of age.
Risks Include: Soreness, headache, loss of appetite, fatigue, severe allergic reaction.
Additional Risk: Shoulder Injuries Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
In addition to the risks noted above, all vaccinations administered by injection in the shoulder carry the risk of shoulder injuries related to vaccine administration (SIRVA). There are various forms of SIRVA, many of which can lead to serious and long-term complications.
Have You or Someone You Love Been Injured By a Vaccine? You May Be Entitled to Compensation
If you or someone you love has experienced a vaccine-related injury, you may be entitled to compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). At the Law Offices of Leah V. Durant & Associates, we provide no-cost legal representation for individuals suffering from vaccine-related injuries, nationwide. For more information about how to file a claim, contact us by calling: (202) 775-9200 or by requesting a contact to speak with our vaccine attorney today.