Family: Minn. boy suffers serious reaction after getting H1N1 vaccine

ROCHESTER, Minn -- A four-year-old Rochester boy is reportedly recovering after his family says he suffered a severe reaction to the H1N1 vaccine.

Cadmar Akara told KTTC news in Rochester his preschooler started showing symptoms shortly after getting the shot Tuesday afternoon from the Mayo northeast Family Clinic.

First, Mecha Akara said he felt weak and that his head and stomach hurt. His dad, who is a nurse, gave his son Motrin.

Mecha threw up a number of times later that night that and eventually became unresponsive.  His dad then performed CPR.

The Mayo Clinic said Tuesday the public "should not assume that the vaccine was necessarily responsible for the boys condition and it is still to early to assume it was related."  The Mayo Clinic also said vaccine side effects are "extremely rare."  

Centers for Disease Control says the H1N1 vaccine, like any medicine, could cause a serious allergic reaction --- but the risk of causing serious harm or death is extremely small.

Signs of a reaction include hives, weakness, or difficulty breathing.

"We've taken no shortcuts in terms of safety and we're constantly monitoring any potential problems with the vaccine," says CDC Director Thomas Frieden.

Doctors say four-year-old Mecha did suffer a seizure. His parents said they don't want their situation to stop others from getting the vaccine. 

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