CDC on Thursday recommended that health-care providers observe young patients after vaccination, following a spike in the number of syncope, or fainting, reports in recent years.
According to CDC, at least 463 people fainted after getting immunized over an 18-month period from 2005 to 2007. While such fainting is not uncommon and is not in itself dangerous, some of the youngsters fell and hit their heads on the floor. At least one had a car accident, CDC said, and a 15-year-old boy died after striking his head.
Cases of syncope have risen as new vaccines, notably those against human papillomavirus (HPV) and meningitis (MCV4), have become routine among adolescents and teens. US infants and very young children receive a battery of vaccinations, but immunizations for older children and teenagers were not common until recently.
“A girl aged 13 years fainted within 10 minutes of receiving HPV and MCV4 vaccinations,” reported CDC. “She fell backward and hit her head on the carpeted floor of the clinic.” Though the girl had a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain, she eventually recovered.
“Providers should strongly consider observing patients for 15 minutes after they are vaccinated,” CDC urged.
The report, “Syncope After Vaccination, United States, January 2005-July 2007,” was published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2008;57(17):457-460).
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