Whooping Cough Vaccine
Injuries and side effects

Shoulder Injuries (SIRVA)

According to the National Institutes of Health, SIRVA, or shoulder injury resulting from vaccine administration, is a term for many shoulder injuries that can occur when a vaccine is injected into the shoulder in the wrong tissue. SIRVA symptoms include severe pain that lasts weeks or months, inability to raise or reach with the affected arm, and shoulder weakness. Read more about SIRVA here.

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​​Sudden fainting (vasovagal syncope )

Sometimes individuals suddenly faint while receiving a vaccine injection. This is caused by changes in blood flow that can cause lack of blood flow to the brain. While sudden fainting is not inherently dangerous, sometimes people are injured falling when they faint, sometimes suffering traumatic brain injuries. The Mayo Clinic describes more about vasovagal syncope here. Read more about vasovagal syncope here.

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Severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock)

Occasionally, flu shots or other vaccinations cause an allergic reaction. These reactions can be dangerous if left untreated. They can even result in cases where a patient's throat swells and they cannot breathe or they suffer cardiovascular collapse. Mayo clinic describes more about anaphylaxis here. Read more about anaphylactic shock here.

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Brain inflammation (encephalitis) and brain damage or disease (encephalopathy) 

Pertussis vaccinations are associated with harm to the brain due to direct swelling of the brain and nervous tissue (encephalitis) or due to damage to tissues, like the liver, thyroid, kidneys, or other parts  of the body affecting the brain. Some of these conditions are reversible, but some are not, particularly hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or brain damage resulting from lack of oxygen to the brain. Symptoms include confusion, memory loss, personality changes, trouble thinking or focusing, trouble speaking, muscle weakness or twitches, uncontrolled eye movements, tremors, trouble swallowing, sleepiness, or seizures. Read more about encephalopathy here or encephalitis here. 

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