Nation-wide Flu Vaccine Ban for Children Under 5

[Nuddle]

?

And as for the vaccine not being tested, there really is no way to safely test a vaccine on a child. Who is going to subject their child in an experiment to check if a vaccine is safe? We don't know what the effects are going to be until the vaccine has been administered - and by that point it may be too late for some. Someone has to be the guinea pig. Thanks to the medical community and media push, it is a large portion of the Australian public.


XX

but are the parents aware of the fact that it is a new vaccine which has not been used on kids? Or is that bit kept quiet?

[2CheekyMonkeys]

it must be something to do with the batch? havnet children been recieveing the seasonal flu shot for years? that one has been on the market for a while (with new strains added in each year).??

as for the swine flu one the thing that worries me is.. they are saying its safe for now.. but thats just because there hasnt been any reported side effects as went on in WA... but thats not to say it wont happen in the future..??

my kids are due for their second swine flu shot in a couple weeks and i am wondering if i should risk it. they were fine with the first one though.

[LittleB+1]

When I stated about the testing of the vaccine I understand that it cant be tested on children but all vaccines/medications for that matter go through extensive tests before they are put on the market which can take up to 6 months... the swine flu vax had a huge demand in relation to the pandemic and therefore was rushed through.

Reports that I have read and heard are stating that it is the seasonal flu vax that is under the radar and that the swine flu strain only vax is determined safe for children. That being said, I am still in two minds...

[Nuddle]

When I stated about the testing of the vaccine I understand that it cant be tested on children but all vaccines/medications for that matter go through extensive tests before they are put on the market which can take up to 6 months... the swine flu vax had a huge demand in relation to the pandemic and therefore was rushed through.

Reports that I have read and heard are stating that it is the seasonal flu vax that is under the radar and that the swine flu strain only vax is determined safe for children. That being said, I am still in two minds...

they added more then one strain to the seasonal flu shot, and it was not tested on kids like this, just released, the parents not warned that it was a new vaccine...

makes me worry more about the swine flu, which they admit was rushed

[Mrs Jak]

From 'The West Australian' this afternoon..

A one-year-old girl admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital in a critical condition after she received a flu jab appears to be in recovery, with hospital staff reporting this afternoon that she is now in a serious but stable condition.

The child's parents have declined to speak to the media about their ordeal.

Statistical information on numbers of children falling ill after the jabs was not available today, but they were expected to be in decline after the vaccination program came to an abrupt halt.

Praying she makes a speedy recovery. Poor little bubba and family

[Visitor6]

Flu vaccines change every year in the strains included based on the previous years prevaence of strains and predicted vectors of transmission through the region.

Whilst the H1N1 is another virus. It is still a flu variant- not new technology- and AUS is a leader in vaccine technology, so I would trust one of our vaccines.

It is reasonable to expect a batch or handling error eg cold storage chain problem given the confinement of febrile illness/ febrile seizures to WA.

[JellyBean]

The vaccine in question contained 2 strains of seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus - swine flu. According to the article below we are the first in the world to recieve the combination. (Gee - lucky us )

I am aware that children were involved in the trial to see if swine flu was safe (for which adverse reactions were also reported in the media), however I am unable to understand how such a trial is considered safe or ethical. Er..."We need some parents who are keen to subject their children to an experiment to see if a new vaccine is safe to give to the rest of the country?" I can only suppose the parents were paid well? Whether it is safe or accurate to extrapolate the results from animal studies onto humans is questionable.

Article from the National:

CLINICAL tests were never carried out on the latest seasonal flu vaccine - a first-time combination of seasonal flu with the feared swine flu H1N1 - that has left a baby girl fighting for her life in a Perth hospital and sparked fits, fevers and vomiting in up to 60 toddlers across the country.

Health officials were last night trying to determine what had caused the reactions in the children, mostly in Western Australia.

The country's chief medical officer, Jim Bishop, yesterday ordered doctors in all states to stop giving the flu vaccine to children under five.

Professor Bishop said non-swine flu strains in the vaccine may have caused the reactions.

For the first time in the world, the flu shot rolled out in Australia last month combined two strains of seasonal flu, as well as H1N1.

Professor Bishop said the Panvax vaccine - the swine flu jab - was "safe", but said the combined flu shot had been suspended for young children as a "precautionary measure" pending investigation by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, which approved its use last month.

Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
Related CoverageDoctors: Flu jab safe for adults Child critical from WA flu vaccine
Perth Now, 6 hours ago
Children fall sick after flu jab
Daily Telegraph, 20 hours ago
Flu jabs upset Qld kids
Courier Mail, 1 day ago
Drug regulator checking flu jab safety
NEWS.com.au, 1 day ago
Probe on flu shots after kids fall ill
Herald Sun, 1 day agoEnd of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
Panvax was tested on 400 children before its release last year, but the combined shot was not subjected to any clinical trials.

CSL, which manufactures both vaccines, has stopped distributing children's doses nationally "to reduce the risk of inadvertent administration in this age group".

One angry West Australian mother, who only wanted to be identified as Sharon, said if officials had acted earlier, the one-year-old girl in critical condition in hospital may never have become sick.

Sharon had three of her four children vaccinated two weeks ago and all three needed hospitalisation after suffering from fevers, vomiting and fits.

She said it was a frightening experience after her three-year-old, Alivia, turned purple and began shaking.

One of her one-year-old twins, Lateesha, later started convulsing.

Peter Richmond, associate professor at the University of Western Australia's school of pediatrics and child health, said the vaccine was not subjected to trials.

"As with each year's seasonal influenza vaccine, this year's seasonal influenza vaccine isn't subject to specific trials in children before it's used," he said.

[hmn]

It is reasonable to expect a batch or handling error eg cold storage chain problem given the confinement of febrile illness/ febrile seizures to WA.

I've received two phones calls from the Health Department since my DD's reaction and I have asked this question. They assured me they have strict guidelines about storage. Any vaccines that were affected by the storm would be discarded. She also said, if in the very unlikely event that an "off" vaccine was used, it would be less affective rather than cause an adverse reaction.

Who knows if we'll ever be told why this has happened. It seems they avoiding admitting any of these reactions have anything to do with the vaccine. But for any parent that saw their child go through a reaction, KNOW it was the vaccine.

[Visitor6]

So we have an hyperacute febrile response that has led to seizures, from a component of the vaccine.

It may be for example that the viral components have not been attenuated properly,ie made dead if you like. It is important not to eliminate every possibility of cause. For example, some and I mean some, are caused by still sick children being vaccinated. So many variables to consider

I can't see any reason to cover anything up.
The safety measures have been initiated as published. The process of assessing all patients and vaccine stock and supply and manufacturer processes must take time I imagine.

[2CheekyMonkeys]

from what i can gather (and icould be wrong) the flu shot didnt CAUSE the seizures it caused the fevers which as a side effect cause the seizures?

hmn.. are you in WA?

i just really hate flu season!

[Mother Goose]

I haven't read all of these posts and am late coming into this thread. But I want to re-post what I wrote in another thread...

Just wanted to add; I actually have the email released from the AMA regarding the suspension of this immunisation. It has been advised to cease this immunisation in under 5's whilst they investigate the cause. At the time of the email being written, it was unknown if the number of children presenting with adverse side effects (especially febrile convulsions) was elevated or within the usual spectrum of adverse reactions. Remember that it is always a risk a person will react to any medication or vaccine. We hope that it doesn't happen but unfortunately, some people do react. In relation to the recent cases reported via the media, it may be that it appears there is an increase because they are being presented via the media. The AMA is investigating the data to see if there is infact an elevation in the number of adverse reactions being reported.

I am in no way down playing the seriousness of an adverse reaction (my personal and professional stance is quiet the opposite), however I do urge people to wait and see the outcome of this investigation.

HMN, the Dept is correct, there ARE stringent guidelines for the storage of the vaccine and, in fact, all medications. However, that does not mean they are adhered to. Unfortunately, some medication also deteriates rapidly. I see it all the time with a very common anesthetic drug (whereby it doesn't work as effectively due to poor storage, being open too long, the temp of the room we are in).

Nuddle,the vaccine is new every year. Each year it is altered to cover any new strain of the flu that has evolved. The flu is a mutating virus which means that it is constantly changing.

The reason the AMA has said it is safe for the Swine Flu Vaccine to continue being given is because there has not been an apparent (read my earlier paragraph stating they are trying to determine if there has in fact been an increase in reported adverse reactions) increase in adverse reactions. Also, the swine flu vaccine has been available for some months now with few issues which means it is safe to assume that any sudden spike of adverse reactions would be the COMBINATION of the regular flu vaccine combined with the swine flu vaccine.

I would again urge everyone to wait and see what the results of the investigation are. It is scary but lets wait and see what happens.

MG

[Lulu]

Why vacc kids against flu - any kind? Is this usually recommended - do children get the flu alot?

I'm genuinely interested - it's completely off my radar, I've never been told about it or been encouraged to get it for mine. I didn't even know it was recommended for kids if it is.

[Mother Goose]

and just found this on THE AGE online
http://www.theage.com.au/national/ch...0430-tzgm.html


Children's vaccine fits remain mystery
MARK METHERELL AND AMY CORDEROY
May 1, 2010

AFTER a week of analysis, medical authorities are still at a loss to explain why 57 children have had convulsions after receiving influenza vaccine.

The Commonwealth's chief medical officer, Jim Bishop, yesterday announced that a national ban on administering the mixed seasonal and swine flu vaccine to children aged five and under would continue.

Professor Bishop said no evidence had been found of a suspect batch of the CSL vaccine going to Western Australia, where there have been 57 cases of convulsions in children aged five or under.

Although dramatically disproportionate to the rest of Australia's 20 cases of convulsions, including six in Victoria and four in New South Wales, the WA numbers may be partly explained by its higher vaccination rates because the vaccine is available free to infants. Typically the rate of fever with convulsions after vaccination was between one in a 1000 and one in 10,000.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Australians have been unable to get flu shots due to a shortage of seasonal flu vaccine.

There had been unprecedented demand this year, said Greg Caleo, managing director of Calastica, a workplace health provider. His company had to cancel 30,000 injections this month.

While the vaccine's increased popularity may be partly to blame, there have been problems getting supplies into the country.

Alan Hampson, chairman of the Influenza Specialist Group in Australia, said: ''It does seem as if there is a higher patient awareness of influenza at the moment and that is a good thing.''

He advised young, healthy people anxious to get the flu vaccine to consider having the swine flu vaccine.

It is NOT unreasonable to expect that a higher number of being are requesting the vaccine therefor resulting ina higher number of people experiencing an adverse reaction. It does not mean that it is outside the spectrum of expected adverse reactions once you do a comparison such as 1 in 5 (which is a number I a using purely for convenience at this point) should expect a reaction.

[Mother Goose]

Lulu - children are encouraged (young children) because, like the elderly, they are considered to have a lower immune system and not able to fight it as well. They also have reduced strength (I'm not talking brute stregnth either) to fight the condition which can be pretty foul. The flu can cause secondary conditions including pneumonia and other respiratory conditions. So anyone who has a respiratory condition (such as Asthma) or has recently had pneumonia is usually encouraged to have the vaccine - it is much more dangerous for them to get the flu. Also anyone with a lowered immune system (cancer patients, HIV patients, the very young, the elderly, pregnant women etc).

Did that make sense? My coffee fuelled brain power is just about depleted. Must recharge.

ETA: Oh, and the swine flu showed last year that it is much more volatile and problematic in young healthy people (as well as those with comorbidities). They urge ALL young, fit, healthy people to get the swine flu vacc.

[Liz]

''It does seem as if there is a higher patient awareness of influenza at the moment and that is a good thing.''

Let's hope this awareness makes people STAY HOME when they're sick and practice better hygiene when it comes to the flu. I'd rather people did that than run out for flu shots and continue to spread germs when they get sick.

[Inanna]

Lulu unfortunately in our sanitised society many people are unaware (thankfully) of the impact of influenza on those with compromised immunity.

"I've got the flu" is probably the most overused statement that is used. Influenza A is a hideous illness that goes on for weeks and weeks. In those with compromised immunity (pregnancy, young kids, elderly, terminally ill etc) this disease can in fact become life threatening.

Having said that I was stridently advised to have Imogen vaccinated before she was transferred from the tertiary hospital she was in & I declined. She was actually later found to have a condition that she wouldn't have withstood that vaccination.

It is my personal opinion for my children that I would not risk the side affects. like another poster I protect my kids as best I can with quarantine when they are unwell, good quality food, sleep, water & no exposure to big crowds etc.

I also am not advised to vaccinate my kids - I though live in an area with a very very low vaccination rate.

[Liz]

Lulu - no mention of flu shots has ever been made for my kids either (and DS has asthma... albeit very mild.. but it's triggered when he gets sick). Even my 76yr old mother has never been recommended the flu shot, in fact she's been told not to bother with it. I love our GP

[Lulu]

"I've got the flu" is probably the most overused statement that is used. Influenza A is a hideous illness that goes on for weeks and weeks. In those with compromised immunity (pregnancy, young kids, elderly, terminally ill etc) this disease can in fact become life threatening.

I believe this too. I'm always hearing someone has the flu and I think they mix it up with a cold. Yep you feel yuk with a cold but it is VERY different from Influenza. If it's gone in a week its NOT the Flu!