Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration: Implications in Primary Care

<h2>Abstract</h2> Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) is a rare but debilitating adverse event with immunization administration caused primarily by improper intramuscular (IM) administration technique. SIRVA occurs when a deltoid IM immunization is inadvertently injected into surrounding tissues. Nurse practitioners in primary care hold capacity to diagnose, treat, and prevent SIRVA. Early treatment with corticosteroid injections has shown to be effective for management. Delayed diagnosis and treatment of SIRVA have been linked to further injuries, disability, and poor quality of life. Adhering to improved deltoid IM technique with appropriate needle size selection helps prevent SIRVA.