For most people, the worst part of receiving a vaccine is the mild soreness that comes with getting jabbed. Your arm might feel a little tender in the spot where the vaccine was administered, but the good news is that this tenderness is a sign that your immune system is working properly.
The uncomfortable feeling in your arm will typically dissipate within a few hours to a few days. However, in rare cases, some people get an injury called SIRVA. SIRVA, if you haven’t already guessed, stands for shoulder injury related to vaccine administration.
While this uncommon experience poses a very small risk and shouldn’t stop you from getting vaccinated, it’s important to be informed about SIRVA causes, symptoms, and treatment, too.
In This Article:
- What is SIRVA and how does it happen?
- What are the symptoms?
- Who is at risk for SIRVA?
- Preventing SIRVA before your vaccination
What is SIRVA?
“We expect side effects from vaccines. They’re the physical manifestation of inflammation. In other words, it’s what you feel as your body upgrades.
We expect local reactions as we’re, well, sticking a piece of metal in your arm. Redness, swelling, and injection site pain are common. But we all must be aware of a more complicated injection-related adverse event: SIRVA.”
-Dr. Neal Smoller
Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) is an atypical but significant concern arising from vaccine administration. Unlike the commonly experienced post-vaccination soreness, SIRVA occurs when a vaccine is mistakenly injected into the shoulder joint capsule instead of the intended deltoid muscle.
This error triggers an inflammatory response which can cause symptoms that mimic normal vaccine soreness, but last much longer. Hence why awareness of SIRVA symptoms is so crucial! The experience is considered rare, but that may be due in part to the underreporting of SIRVA cases.
The first step to preventing this experience, then, is to know what to look for after receiving a vaccination.
Learn More: Vaccine Ingredients in 2024: Less Scary Than You Might Think
How Does SIRVA Happen?
But it’s also important to know how SIRVA happens, so you can spot the warning signs ahead of time and save yourself the discomfort.
Here’s the open secret: This uncomfortable experience arises due to improper vaccine administration techniques rather than the vaccine itself. When vaccines are injected too high on the arm, into the shoulder joint capsule instead of the deltoid muscle, it can lead to tissue damage and chronic pain – the hallmarks of SIRVA.
This can happen regardless of the kind of vaccination you get whether it’s for the common flu or the latest COVID-19 vaccine.
It’s things like inadequate training of vaccination providers, difficulty reaching the intended vaccine location, and failure to use anatomical landmarks that can increase the risk of experiencing vaccine-related shoulder injuries, not the type or brand of vaccine.
What are the Symptoms of SIRVA?
Identifying SIRVA involves recognizing specific symptoms that differentiate it from routine post-vaccination reactions.
Symptoms of SIRVA are distinct and often more severe. The well-meaning folks who got vaccinated to help protect and preserve their health and the health of their community may experience persistent, sharp shoulder pain that develops shortly after vaccination and does not subside with rest or over-the-counter pain medications.
Most often, symptoms will present within 48 hours of receiving a vaccination. However, unlike temporary soreness, SIRVA pain can worsen over time. Look out for these specific symptoms that begin after receiving a vaccine and do not subside within a few days:
- Persistent shoulder pain
- Restricted movement or decrease in shoulder mobility
- Difficulty reaching overhead or lifting objects
- Swelling or redness around the injection site
- Weakness or loss of strength in the injection arm
- Stiffness, numbness, tingling
- Neck pain
Who is at Risk for SIRVA?
Technically, anyone who receives a vaccine is at risk for SIRVA. But wait!
Before you panic, remember that the condition is extraordinarily rare compared to the vast number of vaccines that are administered across the globe.
That, and the fact that the leading cause of this injury is improper vaccination practices, which can be avoided by choosing reputable vaccine providers. However, there are a few factors that could, potentially, increase the risk of SIRVA like improper wardrobe choices and variations in shoulder anatomy. So don’t stop reading before you reach the next section on prevention!
Preventing SIRVA
What Can You Do to Avoid a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration?
Preventing vaccine-related shoulder injuries involves rigorous adherence to proper vaccine protocols and patient safety measures. But how can you, as the patient seeking safe vaccinations, take steps to avoid it?
By ensuring that there are no obstacles to the correct injection site. Translation: Wear a T-shirt.
It really is that simple! Wearing clothing that allows easy access to the upper arm during vaccination appointments facilitates clear visibility of the injection site and ensures healthcare providers can administer the vaccine accurately.
- Choose: T-shirts that can be easily rolled up to expose the correct vaccine location
- Avoid: Long-sleeved shirts and sweaters that would require you to pull down the neck of the item to expose your arm.
And sure, you can always remove your long-sleeved shirt for complete confidence in the vaccine injection site, but who wants to do that?! Just wear a short-sleeved shirt or a tank top instead.
Learn More: Seasonal Vaccination: When Should You Get Your Vaccines in 2024?
Our Top Tip for Prevention — Choose Reputable Vaccine Providers
Besides your fashion choices, the most important decision you can make to prevent SIRVA is who you choose to be your vaccine provider.
Reputable vaccine providers – you know, like us! – will prioritize patient safety, adhere to vaccination guidelines, and invest in continuous education for healthcare staff. Look for vaccine service providers that:
- Are educated on SIRVA causes, symptoms, and prevention
- Train staff on SIRVA prevention extensively
- Use landmarking practices when administering vaccines
(Psst – landmarking is the term used to describe the use of anatomical landmarks to determine the injection site, and all of our highly credentialed and celebrated staff members are well-versed in it.)
Learn More: Vaccine Season Preview: 2024-2025
Now You’re a SIRVA Savant
SIRVA can seem like a scary thing, and the discomfort that comes with it is no laughing matter. But once you know how to recognize and prevent it, SIRVA is like the monster under the bed that turns out to be a dust bunny. You still want to deal with it, but there’s no need to panic.
Have questions about our staff’s SIRVA-specific training? Let’s chat about it while we schedule your next vaccine.
