Fluarix Quadrivalent is a flu vaccine that has been used in the United States since 2012. As a quadrivalent vaccine, it protects against four strains of the flu (two A strains and two B strains), in contrast to the more-common trivalent vaccines which only protect against three strains (two A strains and one B strain). Like all flu vaccines and other medical treatments or therapies, individuals having particular risk factors should consult their doctors prior to immunization.
Is Fluarix Quadrivalent Safe for Children?
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Fluarix Quadrivalent should only be administered to children three years of age and older. While Fluarix Quadrivalent is generally considered safe, it has a number of known side effects, some of which occur more frequently in children. For example, according to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the vaccine’s manufacturer:
- 44 percent of children between three and 17 years of age experience localized pain following Fluarix Quadrivalent injections, compared to 36 percent of adults.
- 19 percent of children between three and 17 years of age experience localized swelling, compared to two percent of adults.
- Nine percent of children between three and five years of age experience fever (≥5 degrees Fahrenheit), compared to two percent of adults.
However, it should be noted that these figures are not significantly different from the comparable statistics for competing trivalent flu vaccines (as published by GSK).
How Many Doses of Fluarix Quadrivalent Are Required?
For adults and children nine years of age and older, Fluarix Quadrivalent is administered in a single 0.5 milliliter dose. Younger children should receive two shots four weeks apart if they have not previously been vaccinated against the flu, but may receive only one injection if they received an immunization during the previous flu season.
What are Some of the Risks Associated with Fluarix Quadrivalent?
According to GSK, the most significant risks associated with Fluarix Quadrivalent are: (i) the risk of anaphylaxis for anyone with an allergy to egg protein or who has had an allergic reaction to a flu vaccine in the past; (ii) the risk of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) for individuals who have been diagnosed with GBS following previous flu vaccinations; (iii) the risk of fainting during vaccine injection; and, (iv) the risk of experiencing localized pain at the injection site.
However, another risk that is associated with all flu vaccinations is the risk of a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA). These potentially-serious injuries, including adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) and brachial neuritis, result from clinical errors during the vaccine injection and are not specific to any particular type(s) of flu vaccine.
How Do I Know if My Vaccine-Related Shoulder Pain is a Sign of a Serious Injury?
If you experience shoulder pain following an injection with Fluarix Quadrivalent, you should see your doctor. Tell your doctor about your recent vaccination, and let your doctor know that you are concerned about a possible shoulder injury related to vaccine administration.
What Should I Do if I Receive a SIRVA Diagnosis?
If you or your child is diagnosed with a vaccine-related shoulder injury, the Center for Vaccine Shoulder Pain Recovery can help. We provide no-cost legal representation for SIRVA claims under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). The VICP pays compensation for medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering resulting from vaccine injuries, and it provides this compensation without the need to take the pharmaceutical companies to court.
Learn More about the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP)
For more information about your rights under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), contact the Center for Vaccine Shoulder Pain Recovery. We represent clients in all 50 states, and it costs you nothing to find out if you have a claim. To schedule a free and confidential consultation, call us at (844) 789-2047 or contact us online today.