Professor Peter Kelly, executive director for public health across NHS Hartlepool, says secondary symptoms of having the swine flu jab may be mistaken for a cold or flu when they could in fact be the body boosting its immune system.
It has been re
ported recently that health chiefs were disappointed with the relatively low uptake of the vaccination, but Prof Kelly said the programme was still in its early stages, which made measurement of uptake difficult.
And there are reports of people being laid low with flu-like symptoms shortly after having the vaccination.
Prof Kelly said: "To the best of my knowledge, we have had no reports of serious side-effects, though we are aware of feedback around mild side effects in one in 10 people.
"The common side-effects are no different to other vaccinations really.
"There can be a redness and swelling or hard lump where the injection takes place. There can also be a bit of muscle ache, fever or headache.
"The vaccine itself is dead, so it can't actually give people a cold. But some people can confuse some of the side-effects, like headache, tiredness and fever with a cold.
"The vaccine works by reproducing the symptoms."
Prof Kelly said patients who had received the vaccination were given leaflets explaining the side-effects, guidelines on taking paracetamol and advice on contacting their GP should symptoms persist.
He said it was too early to tell whether the uptake was good or bad, but added: "We are finding the uptake in healthcare staff is excellent.
"We are continuing to urge all healthcare staff to protect themselves and protect their patients by taking up vaccinations as early as they can."
Prof Kelly said in the first stage of the vaccination programme, 15 of the 206 care and residential homes across Teesside had so far been offered the jabs.
He said vulnerable people between six months old and 65 years old, such as cancer patients, diabetics and chronic asthma suffers had started to get the vaccine. Children aged six months to five years old were next in line, followed by pregnant women and health workers.
