Flu shot side effects worth the risk, say health officials

By Crystal Clavet

Flu season is here again, and so are Ottawa’s free flu clinics. Despite reports the vaccine isn’t 100 per cent effective and concerns about side effects, the city plans to administer the same number of vaccines as last year.

Ottawa Public Health expects to provide 42,000 vaccinations to city residents this year through its free clinics this year from now until January, says Eric Collard, a media relations officer for the city of Ottawa.

Michelle Parks, a public health nurse, says the media have tied adverse side effects to the flu shot, but people have nothing to worry about. She says side effects of the vaccine are mild.

“The risk associated with the flu is higher than the side effects of the vaccine,” she says.

The most common side effect people feel is some soreness at the injection sight, which goes away in two days, says Parks.

Less common side effects are fever and muscle aches, which can be treated with Tylenol. Parks, the supervisor of immunization clinics, says that different symptoms appear each year as the vaccine changes. She says having the flu is worse than dealing with the side effects. The flu symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, and weakness.

The flu has a long recovery time and requires bed rest. Flu sufferers can also develop serious complications, including pneumonia, kidney failure or heart failure – all of which can be life-threatening.

The flu shot protects against the virus between 60 to 70 per cent of the time. However, it does not completely prevent the flu, leading to a milder case if the person has been immunized.

A recent British study suggests these numbers are lower, while an Italian study for the Cochrane Review says vaccinating children older than two seems effective but there isn’t enough evidence to prove it.

Mary Ellen Schaafsma, the executive director of the Canadian Cochrane Centre, an organization that promotes evidence-based health care, says the problem with the flu shot is that there isn’t enough quality controlled evidence to make a proper conclusion about its effectiveness.

Widespread vaccination has only been encouraged for the last few years, says Schaafsma, but no one has analyzed the data.

Mimi Davis, a long-term care nurse, says this lack of proof is why she won’t get the shot.

“I’m skeptical about the effectiveness,” she says. “There’s no proof that the shot reduces outbreaks. I also think there’s some risk – it’s small, but it’s there.”

Davis says she feels a lot of pressure to get the flu shot because she works in a long-term care facility, but she still refuses.

Ottawa Public Health recommends seniors, small children and people with weakened immune systems, as well as anyone in contact with these groups get the flu shot. Health care workers are encouraged to get the shot.

People who cannot get the shot, including those with egg allergies, infants under 6 months, and people who have had allergic reactions to the shot before, can still be protected if those around them get the shot, says Parks.

“The more people that get the vaccine, the safer it is,” says Parks. “The people around you create a safe environment.”

She says this applies to high-risk groups as well, because a more-vaccinated population lowers the risk for these groups.

Verna Schwartz has had the flu shot, but says she has doubts about the shot.

“The pros are supposed to outweigh the cons, but I don’t know if I’ll get it next year,” she says.

Davis says she hasn’t been immunized in 10 years and hasn’t had the flu in 30. The key is taking care of yourself, she says. “The shot avoids people looking at alternatives,” Davis says.

“People don’t pay attention to the real way of boosting immune systems, like eating properly and getting enough sleep.”