Hepatitis B vaccine & adverse reactions

Posted By Paula on April 29, 1998 at 02:36:14:







I am an RN who knows that vaccines save untold amounts of lives however there is another story yet to be told.  I had the recombinant Hep. B vaccine in 1987 and developed an auto-immune disease with joint & muscle pain, muscle weakness and fatigue, insomnia, general fatigue, memory loss, lesions, tremors to name a few of the symptoms.  I read a response given to a question about the vaccine and adverse reactions which stated that there was a "rare" serious side effect to this vaccine.  I have to ask if one has read all the VERS reports or adverse reaction reports about the hep b vaccine from both companies.  Or if one has read the clinical studies.  There are many of us that have an auto-immune disease that is very difficult to live with and some who have had fatal reactions.  I also developed Hepatitis B in the last 3 years after getting IV treatment and it went unnoticed.  The companies need to research the problems with the vaccine so that perhaps a simple scratch test may prevent people like me from suffering a lifetime of illness.  I know that the many people I know with this illness would offer to help in any research.  Before it is said that there are "rare" serious side effects perhaps I can help you look in a different direction.  I appreciate your time and consideration to this matter.