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RELATED VACCINES
Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis (“DTaP”) Vaccine
Haemophilus Influenzae type b (“Hib”) Vaccine
Hepatitis A (“Hep A”) Vaccine
Hepatitis B (“Hep B”) Vaccine
Human Papillomavirus (“HPV”) Vaccine
Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine
Measles, Mumps and Rubella (“MMR”) Vaccine
Meningococcal Vaccine
Pneumococcal Conjugate (“PCV”) Vaccine
Polio (“IPV”) Vaccine
Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis (“Tdap”) Vaccine
Varicella (“Chickenpox”) Vaccine
Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. It typically occurs within minutes or even seconds of exposure to things such as a specific food, insect venom, or certain medications such as penicillin for example. Anaphylaxis causes your system to release certain chemicals that in turn cause shock, resulting in a dramatic drop in blood pressure and a narrowing of the airway causing breathing difficulties. Anaphylaxis requires immediate medical care vis-à-vis a trip to the emergency room. You may know people who carry medications such as an epinephrine pen in order to self medicate if they are accidentally exposed to something to which they may have a severe reaction.
While certain vaccine antigens have been known to cause an anaphylactic reaction, anaphylaxis is an extremely rare reaction to a vaccine. (approximately one in a million). Even fainting or a vasovagal response following a vaccine, also somewhat rare, is distinguished from a true anaphylactic reaction. Doctors and other healthcare professionals are usually trained to know the difference.
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