Screening Questionnaire Or Seasonal And H1n1 Influenza Injectable Vaccination Form (Page 2 of 2) in pdf

Information for Health Professionals about the Screening Questionnaire

for Seasonal and H1N1 Influenza Injectable Vaccination

Are you interested in knowing why we included a certain question on the Screening

Questionnaire? If so, read the information below. If you want to find out even more, consult the

sources listed at the bottom of this page.

1. Is the person to be vaccinated sick today?

3. Has the person to be vaccinated ever had a

There is no evidence that acute illness reduces

serious reaction to influenza vaccine in the

vaccine efficacy or increases vaccine adverse

past?

events. Persons with an acute febrile illness usually

Patients reporting a serious reaction to a previous

should not be vaccinated until their symptoms have

dose of inactivated influenza vaccine should be

improved. Minor illnesses with or without fever do

asked to describe their symptoms. Immediate—

not contraindicate use of influenza vaccine. Do not

presumably allergic—reactions are usually a

withhold vaccination if a person is taking antibiotics.

contraindication to further vaccination against

influenza.

2. Does the person to be vaccinated have an

allergy to eggs or to a component of the

Fever, malaise, myalgia, and other systemic

vaccine?

symptoms most often affect persons who are first-

Allergic reactions to any vaccine component can

time vaccinees. These mild-to-moderate local

occur. The majority of reactions probably are

reactions are not a contraindication to future

caused by residual egg protein. Although current

vaccination. Also, red eyes or mild upper facial

influenza vaccines contain only a limited quantity of

swelling following vaccination with inactivated

egg protein, this protein can induce immediate

injectable influenza vaccine is most likely a

allergic reactions among persons who have severe

coincidental event and not related to the vaccine;

egg allergy. If a person can eat eggs, they can

these persons can receive injectable vaccine

receive inactivated influenza vaccine. However,

without further evaluation.

persons who have experienced an anaphylactic

reaction (e.g., hives, swelling of the lips or tongue,

4. Has the person to be vaccinated ever had

acute respiratory distress, or collapse) after eating

Guillain-Barré syndrome?

eggs should consult a physician for appropriate

It is prudent to avoid vaccinating persons who are

evaluation to help determine if vaccine should be

not at high risk for severe influenza complications

but who are known to have developed Guillain-

administered. Persons who have documented

immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated hypersensitivity

Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks after

to eggs, including those who have had occupational

receiving a previous influenza vaccination. As an

asthma or other allergic responses to egg protein,

alternative, physicians might consider using

might also be at increased risk for allergic reactions

influenza antiviral chemoprophylaxis for these

to influenza vaccine. Consultation with a physician

persons. Although data are limited, the established

should be considered. Protocols have been

benefits of influenza vaccination for the majority of

published for safely administering influenza vaccine

persons who have a history of GBS, and who are at

to persons with egg allergies (see source 3).

high risk for severe complications from influenza,

justify yearly vaccination.

FluZone (sanofi pasteur) contains gelatin as a

stabilizer; therefore a history of anaphylactic

______________________

reaction to gelatin is a contraindication. Some

Sources:

inactivated influenza vaccines contain thimerosal as

1. CDC. Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable

a preservative. Most persons with sensitivity to

Diseases, WL Atkinson et al., editors, at

thimerosal, such as that found in contact lens

pubs/pinkbook.

solution, do not experience reactions to thimerosal

2. CDC. “General Recommendations on Immunization:

Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization

administered as a component of vaccines. Check

Practices (ACIP)” at pubs/acip-list.htm.

the package insert at

3. CDC. “Prevention and Control of Influenza—

packageinserts

for a list of the vaccine components

Recommendations of ACIP” at

(i.e., excipients and culture media) used in the

vaccination.

4. CDC. “Use of Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine”

production of the vaccine, or go to

vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/e

xcipient-table-2.pdf.

Adapted by MDPH from Screening Questionnaire for Injectable Vaccination from the Immunization Action

Coalition

(9-09)--

Screening Questionnaire Or Seasonal And H1n1 Influenza Injectable Vaccination Form Page 2

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