What are the causes?

The most common complaints, which almost every adult also knows after a vaccination, are redness, swelling and pain over the injection site. This can be considered a harmless reaction of the immune system. The local reaction, which can also occur in babies, rather proves that the immune system reacts well and adequately to the vaccine and builds up a necessary defence.

Similarly, cold-like complaints such as headaches and aching limbs, fever and malaise can be considered a general reaction of the body to the vaccine and are harmless. Are you interested in the functions of the immune system? In addition to these reactions, which represent a confrontation of the body with the vaccine, there are complications that are typical for individual vaccinations.

In a live vaccination, for example, attenuated pathogens are injected. As a result, mild forms of the childhood diseases can appear after a few weeks. However, these are not contagious and disappear on their own.

Allergic reactions to vaccinations are extremely rare. The main cause is then the chicken egg protein contained in the vaccination in the case of a chicken egg protein allergy. Some vaccines contain aluminium or mercury.

However, the concentration is very low. Several worldwide recognized institutions such as the WHO or the EMA have independently shown in studies that these do not cause any health damage or provoke autism. Since many parents are very afraid of these substances, vaccines without added mercury are now available for all vaccinations.

Duration of side effects

The redness, swelling or pain at the injection site rarely lasts longer than 48 hours. After this time, the findings usually disappear or decrease significantly. If an inflammation of the site occurs with marked overheating and pressure pain, a presentation should be made to the pediatrician who has also administered the vaccination.

Feverish reactions usually do not last longer than 24 hours. If the fever cannot be lowered and persists for three days, a feverish infection and no vaccination reaction can be assumed. A clarification should be made by the pediatrician. Vaccination measles are usually preceded by a feeling of illness that lasts up to 10 days. The inoculation measers can then last up to a week and disappear on their own.