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.
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...
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.
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