Canada - swine flu

Six bad reactions to swine flu vaccine

Article published on the 2009-11-25 Latest update 2009-11-25 15:06 TU

Vaccination against the A-H1N1 flu
(Photo: Vincent Kessler/Reuters)

Six severe allergic reactions to swine flu vaccinations have been observed in Canada, health authorities said Tuesday. All of the individuals fully recovered.

All of the cases of anaphylactic shock were linked to a single batch or 172,000 doses of Aprepanrix vaccines made by GlaxoSmithKline. The batch that was halted was slated to be distributed to six provinces over the week of 2 November. 

Anaphylactic shock is a severe, rapid and sometimes fatal allergic reaction to a foreign substance such as a vaccine. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips, eyelids, throat or tongue, and low blood pressure.

"People who have received the vaccine and have not had an allergic reaction have no reason to be concerned," said the Public Health Agency of Canada in a statement on Tuesday.

"The H1N1 flu virus vaccine has proven to be both safe and highly effective. The fact that we have identified a potential safety issue underscores that our monitoring system works," it said.

There have been 279 deaths in Canada linked to the A-H1N1 virus.

The World Health Organization first alerted health authorities of potential problems with this batch of vaccines, but it maintains its recommendations for swine flu vaccines.The WHO says these are still the most effective way to fight the virus, which has killed around 6,750 people worldwide since it first appeared in March.

Japan, which has ordered vaccinations made by GlaxoSmithKline for 37 million of its people, plans to send a team of health experts to Canada to investigate the allergic reactions.  Japanese medical workers were vaccinated in October with the country just entering the autumn-winter flu season.  The A-H1N1 virus has killed 70 people in Japan since its appearance there in May.

In France, Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot urged students in collèges and lycées (junior high and high school) to get vaccinated as she launched a national campaign for vaccination in schools on a voluntary basis on Wednesday.

Regarding reticence over the vaccine, Bachelot said she was "tempted to bring youngsters to an intensive care unit where they can see young people their age whose lungs have been irreparably damaged by the A-H1N1 virus, something you don't see with the seasonal flu." The campaign, covering 5.3 million students will last until 18 December.

On Tuesday, France closed 315 schools as a result of the epidemic.  Authorities put the number of deaths linked to the A-H1N1 virus at 57.