Flu shots are given to babies above six months of age. Initially, the first flu shot involves administration of two injections within a gap of one month and subsequently once a year. Various reactions may occur due to flu shots some of them are discussed below.

Following Reactions May Occur Due To Flu Shots

Allergy

If your baby is allergic to poultry eggs then flu vaccine is not suitable for him. After all components of egg are used in the development of flu vaccine and some traces of albumin remain in the vaccine during administration.

Allergic reactions may include development of Hives and other more serious and probably life threatening side effects as in the case of Anaphylaxis where the oxygen in the lungs get reduced so much drastically due to constriction of the throat that it leads to low blood pressure, weakened heart rate and ultimately cardiac arrest.

However, this is up to the doctor to decide whether or not your baby is the right candidate for the flu vaccine. Similarly, the vaccine is not administered to babies who are suffering from fever, so you will need to wait till he is healthy enough receive the shots.

General Side Effects

These side effects usually occur when your baby gets its first flu vaccine shot. There may be pain or swelling that may last till a day or two, followed by fever, development of rashes, general body ache and sullen temperament. Nowadays nasal flu vaccines have become the general norm.

Side effects of this nasal vaccine or Flumist as it is generally called include- aches and pains, running nose or nose blockage, coughing and fever. Sometimes in children with previous history of wheezing, Flumist may aggravate the problem so it is important to communicate the history to the doctor who may then opt for a conventional vaccine instead of the nasal shot.

Others

Flu-like symptoms may come in fore after the injection administration with muscle pain, diarrhea combined with acute stomach ache and aggravated nasal infection. The symptoms may vary from general to acute condition. Fever may be present with slight warming up of the body to high fever requiring serious antibiotic administration.

If the condition becomes extremely severe after the administration of flu vaccine in the first year caution must be taken before deciding whether or not to continue with the vaccination in the second year. After gauzing the condition of your child the doctor may discontinue it in consideration of the health benefit of the child.

Another extremely dangerous though very rare side effect of the flu vaccine is ADE or Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis. This encephalomyelitis is quite sudden in nature and can make an appearance within the first 3 months after the administration of the vaccine.

There is fever, dimmed reflexes, extreme weakening of muscles, blurred vision and balancing impairment. While the fever is cured with time, neurological problems persist longer and are hard to get rid of. If you have major reservations regarding the anticipated complications related to post flu vaccination it is better to consult the doctor who may be able to suggest some alternative.