SUMMARY: Public relations officials are preparing to handle messaging regarding coincidental deaths or miscarriages that occur shortly after receiving the swine flu vaccine.  If deaths are erroneously blamed on the vaccine, the concern is that more people will choose not to get vaccinated.  With the 24-hour cable news cycle, blogs and social networking, officials must be prepared to handle questions and rumors as they arise.
STORY LINK: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/28/health/policy/28vaccine.html?_r=3&partner=rss&emc=rss
ANALYSIS:
Coincidental adverse events pose a challenge to every vaccination effort, even more so when the immunization program is as highly reported as the H1N1 initiative.  In an age of virtually instantaneous communications, erroneous conclusions can evolve and flash around the globe in a matter of hours.  “John took medicine X; then had a heart attack.”  Obvious conclusion:  medicine X caused the heart attack.  Or is it?

There are two overriding realities regarding influenza vaccinations:  they are safe and on very rare occasions they can cause complications.  Influenza immunizations have been administered to millions upon millions of individuals worldwide and have amassed an amazing safety record.  Each new vaccine is clinically tested for efficacy and safety prior to being approved for distribution.  As has been discussed previously in this forum, the very slight risk of a reaction to the immunization itself pales in comparison to the danger of the disease.  Like most things in life, however, the flu immunization is not 100 percent risk free.  Potential side effects from the injection include a mild fever, body aches, fatigue for a few days after the vaccine, and soreness at the injection site. The most common adverse events seen with administration of the nasal vaccine include runny nose or nasal congestion in recipients of all ages, fever more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit in children two to six years of age, and sore throat in adults.

More serious complications experienced after receiving a flu immunization should be reported to a medical professional.  Suspected adverse reactions are reported to the CDC and FDA via the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, using the VAERS-1 form.  This facilitates the monitoring of adverse reactions and the development of measures to detect, diagnose, and treat complications caused by a vaccine.  Further information is available from the FDA’s 24 Hour Toll Free VAERS Information line at 1-800-822-7967.