Vaccine Reactions - Specific Details

Chickenpox Virus Vaccine:

Pain or swelling at the shot site for 1 to 2 days. (20% of children)
Mild fever lasting 1 to 3 days begins 17 to 28 days after the shot (15%). Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever over 102° F (39°C).
Never give aspirin for fever, pain or within 6 weeks of getting the shot. Reason: Risk of Reye syndrome, a rare but serious brain disease.
Chickenpox-like rash (usually 2 red bumps) at the shot site (3%)
Chickenpox-like rash (usually 5 red bumps) scattered over the body (4%)
This mild rash begins 5 to 26 days after the shot. Most often, it lasts a few days.
Children with these rashes can go to child care or school. (Reason: For practical purposes, vaccine rashes are not spread to others)
EXCEPTION: Do not go to school if red bumps drain fluid and are all over. Reason: Can be actual chickenpox.
Caution: If vaccine rash contains fluid, cover it with clothing or a Band-Aid.

Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP) Vaccine:

These harmless reactions to DTaP can occur:
Pain, swelling and redness at the shot site is the main side effect. This happens in 25% of children. It lasts for 3 to 7 days.
Fever (in 25% of children) and lasts for 24 to 48 hours
Children can be sleepy (30%) and / or fussy (30%). They can also have a decreased appetite (10%). These symptoms go away in about 24 to 48 hours after the shot.
Large swelling over 4 inches (10 cm) arm can follow the later doses of DTaP. The area of redness is smaller. This usually occurs with the 4th or 5th dose. It occurs in 5% of children. Most children can still move the leg or arm normally. The area of redness is smaller.
The large thigh or upper arm swelling goes away without treatment. This is usually by day 3 (60%) to day 7 (90%).
This is not an allergy. Future DTaP vaccines are safe to give.

Hemophilus Influenza Type B Vaccine (Hib):

Hepatitis A Virus Vaccine:

Hepatitis B Virus Vaccine (HBV):

No serious reactions reported.
Sore shot site occurs in 30% of children and mild fever in 3% of children.
Fever from the vaccine is rare. Any baby under 2 months with a fever after this shot should be examined.

Influenza Virus Vaccine:

Pain or swelling at the shot site occurs within 6 to 8 hours. The shot site may be tender to touch. This happens in 10% of children.
Mild fever under 103° F (39.5° C) occurs in 20% of children. Fevers mainly occur in young children.
Nasal Influenza Vaccine: Congested or runny nose, mild fever.

Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine:

Measles Virus Vaccine can cause a fever (10% of children) and rash (5% of children). This occurs about 6 to 12 days after the shot.
Mild fever under 103° F (39.5°C) in 10% and lasts 2 or 3 days.
The mild pink rash is mainly on the trunk and lasts 2 or 3 days.
No treatment is needed. The measles vaccine rash cannot be spread to others. Your child can go to child care or to school with the rash.
Mumps or Rubella Virus Vaccine: There are no serious reactions. Sometimes, a sore shot site can occur.
Call Your Doctor If: Rash changes to blood-colored spots or lasts more than 3 days.

Meningococcal Vaccine:

No serious reactions.
Sore shot site for 1 to 2 days occurs in 50%. Limited use of the arm occurs in 15% of children.
Mild fever occurs in 5%, headache in 40% and joint pain in 20%
The vaccine never causes meningitis.

Papillomavirus Virus Vaccine:

Pneumococcal Vaccine:

Polio Virus Vaccine:

Rotavirus Vaccine:

Usually, no serious reactions to this vaccine given by mouth.
Mild diarrhea or vomiting for 1 to 2 days in 3%.
No fever.
Rare serious reaction: intussusception risk 1 in 100,000 (CDC). Presents with vomiting, bloody diarrhea or severe crying.