As winter approaches, the debate about the effectiveness of the flu shot resurfaces, causing quite a stir on social media.
Some people argue that the vaccine is just a ploy for pharmaceutical companies to make money, and that the shot may have long-term health consequences, such as Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
Others argue that the flu shot is the best way to protect oneself against a potentially deadly virus.
The reality is that the flu can have life-threatening consequences for young children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 80,000 Americans died of influenza last winter. This is the highest death toll from the flu in decades!
There may not be a time where we all agree on this controversial subject, especially when unfortunate complications from the flu shot are reported.
"I always get a flu shot ... within 24 hours, I knew something wasn't right."
It wasn't Jacalyn Broze's first time getting the flu shot.
The Minnesota woman told local reporters that she gets the vaccine every year, but in 2017, the day she got her seasonal flu shot changed the rest of her life.
It's common to have soreness in your arm for a couple days after getting the shot, but this time, Broze just "knew something wasn't right."
Her shoulders were in extreme pain, and her chiropractor even noticed that her right shoulder and arm were sloping.
Broze explained that she had to visit several doctors before finally understanding what was happening to her body.
"Everything had fallen off."
A doctor told Broze that she had SIRVA (Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration), which is a medical complication when a vaccine is not administered properly.
In this case, the shot must have been placed too high or deep into the upper arm.
SIRVA causes injury in tendons, ligaments, or bursa (a fluid-filled sac in your shoulder spaces), and can lead to prolonged pain, limited range of motion, and shoulder-related injuries.
"The surgeon had me do another MRI, and everything had fallen off. A complete tear of the rotator cuff," Broze said.
"[Be] careful how it's given."
There's a risk of getting SIRVA with every vaccine, but the chances of you getting it is quite rare.
In light of that, Broze still encourages people to get the vaccine.
"I would not tell anyone not to get a shot, but just being careful how it's given," she said.
The Minnesota woman has undergone surgery to repair the tear in her shoulder and is working on gaining her arm mobility back.
If you have any questions or concerns about the flu vaccine, don't hesitate to talk to your doctor.
[H/T: WCCO]