WHO dispels inoculation death link
By Stephanie Nebehay |
November 20, 2009, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ABOUT 40 people have died after being inoculated against swine flu, but investigations so far show the fatalities were not caused by the vaccine, the World Health Organization said yesterday.
The UN agency reaffirmed that the H1N1 vaccine was safe and voiced concern that some pregnant women and others at risk were shunning it because of a fear of side effects.
"No new safety issue has been identified from reports issued to date ... Reporting so far reconfirms that the pandemic flu vaccine is as safe as the seasonal flu vaccine," Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO's top vaccine expert, told a telephone conference.
Governments have so far reported that 65 million vaccine doses have been administered against swine flu in 16 countries, but the true figure is probably higher since immunization campaigns are under way in 40 countries and regions, she said.
Side effects commonly reported include swelling and redness or pain at the injection site, although some people experienced fever or headache, and all symptoms usually disappeared after 48 hours.
A "small number of deaths" had been reported, she said, and a WHO spokeswoman later put the figure at 41 in six countries.
"Although some investigations are still ongoing, the results of the completed investigations reported to the WHO have ruled out that the pandemic vaccine is the cause of death," Kieny said.
Fewer than a dozen suspected cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome have been reported following pandemic vaccination, she said. "Only a few of this Guillain-Barre may be linked to the pandemic vaccine and patients have recovered," she added.
The rare neurological condition was linked to a 1976 US swine flu vaccination campaign. Although no case of Guillain-Barre syndrome was ever linked to the vaccine, a belief that the vaccine was worse than the illness remains widespread.
GlaxoSmithKline Plc, AstraZeneca Plc, Novartis and Sanofi-Aventis are among about 25 manufacturers producing H1N1 vaccine.
"No significant difference in the safety profile between different types of vaccine has been detected," Kieny said.
She denounced conspiracy theories about vaccines circulating on the Internet, saying they were causing "artificial worries."
"We have to reiterate that the vaccines are safe, that the disease in certain people can be severe and can be cause of death," Kieny said. "It is worrying indeed that certain groups don't seem to be coming readily to be vaccinated."
The UN agency reaffirmed that the H1N1 vaccine was safe and voiced concern that some pregnant women and others at risk were shunning it because of a fear of side effects.
"No new safety issue has been identified from reports issued to date ... Reporting so far reconfirms that the pandemic flu vaccine is as safe as the seasonal flu vaccine," Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO's top vaccine expert, told a telephone conference.
Governments have so far reported that 65 million vaccine doses have been administered against swine flu in 16 countries, but the true figure is probably higher since immunization campaigns are under way in 40 countries and regions, she said.
Side effects commonly reported include swelling and redness or pain at the injection site, although some people experienced fever or headache, and all symptoms usually disappeared after 48 hours.
A "small number of deaths" had been reported, she said, and a WHO spokeswoman later put the figure at 41 in six countries.
"Although some investigations are still ongoing, the results of the completed investigations reported to the WHO have ruled out that the pandemic vaccine is the cause of death," Kieny said.
Fewer than a dozen suspected cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome have been reported following pandemic vaccination, she said. "Only a few of this Guillain-Barre may be linked to the pandemic vaccine and patients have recovered," she added.
The rare neurological condition was linked to a 1976 US swine flu vaccination campaign. Although no case of Guillain-Barre syndrome was ever linked to the vaccine, a belief that the vaccine was worse than the illness remains widespread.
GlaxoSmithKline Plc, AstraZeneca Plc, Novartis and Sanofi-Aventis are among about 25 manufacturers producing H1N1 vaccine.
"No significant difference in the safety profile between different types of vaccine has been detected," Kieny said.
She denounced conspiracy theories about vaccines circulating on the Internet, saying they were causing "artificial worries."
"We have to reiterate that the vaccines are safe, that the disease in certain people can be severe and can be cause of death," Kieny said. "It is worrying indeed that certain groups don't seem to be coming readily to be vaccinated."
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