Flu jab!! what's going on?

[Rupert_Baehr]

The article you linked to is dated Aug 2010. Is Finland using a flu vaccine at all this year?

 

This article is more recent and seems to confirm a probable link (though for some reason, only Sweden and Finland confirmed evidence of increased narcolepsy.)

 

The article says '...The European Medicines Agency recommends that the use of Pandemrix among those below 20 years of age should be limited to situations where seasonal influenza vaccine is not available and if the person requires protection from the swine flu virus because of being at risk of developing a severe form of the disease or its complications.'

 

The article also notes that 'During the influenza season 2010–2011, 52 persons were treated in intensive care, and 13 succumbed. Most of these were unvaccinated. Combining the data on morbidity and mortality with data on vaccinations in the 2009–2010 pandemic season indicate that a swine flu vaccination taken in the pandemic season had provided 75–88 per cent protection against the swine flu virus in winter 2010–2011. Based on these vaccine effectiveness figures, it has been estimated that during the first wave in 2009-2010, the swine flu vaccine prevented approximately 40 000 cases of swine flu, and during the second wave in 2010-2011, another 40 000 cases of swine flu.

 

The Task Force concurs with the European Medicines Agency’s estimate that, despite the unforeseen and deeply regrettable cases of narcolepsy, the overall benefit-risk balance remains positive.'

 

(Here's a link to a summary of the EMA report)

 

Pandemrix is an adjuvenated vaccine (contains chemicals which are supposed to boost its efficacy.) There was some discussion in 2009 about whether the use of adjuvenated vaccines was advisable. (That discussion became quite heated in Germany, where it was revealed that members of the government were to receive the non-adjuvenated vaccine but the rest of the people were going to get the boosted stuff.

 

According to the CDC:" Pandemrix is not licensed for use in the United States. No adjuvanted influenza vaccines are licensed in the United States."

 

(NB: The CDC article says: " A different influenza vaccine will be used in Europe during the upcoming influenza season."

 

There's no such thing as a vaccine which is perfectly safe - just as there is no such thing as a medicine which is perfectly safe. The EMA has limited the use of Pandemrix and presumably - if you're in a group deemed by the EMA to be 'at risk' - you will either get an alternative, or no vaccine.

 

It's up to the individual to make a (hopefully informed) choice.

 

You may have some difficulty in getting the information - but I expect it is available.