UP Ibalon Bicol: Nerve disease feared in swine flu vaccination

Nerve disease feared in swine flu vaccination

8/17/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

As the production of the H1N1 flu immunization is being rushed for the fall and winter season, scientists are worried if the vaccine can trigger a complication called Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS.) The vaccine's adverse effect involves the nerve, causing paralysis, difficulty of breathing and sometimes death.

In 1976, when vaccination was recommended in USA to a swine flu epidemic, about 500 cases came down with GBS Twenty five (25) people died, prompting health authorities to withdraw the vaccine. Guillain Barre Syndrome affected about one in 80,000. It turned out to be more lethal than the complication of the swine flu vaccine itself.

The concern for GBS was relayed to about 600 neurologists on July 28, 2009 in United Kingdom as swine vaccine is being prepared for administration to nearly 13 million people to counter the threat of the resurgence of H1N1 flu in October.

“GBS has been identified as a condition needing enhanced surveillance when the swine flu vaccines are rolled out. Reporting every case of GBS irrespective of vaccination or disease history is essential for conducting robust epidemiological analyses capable of identifying whether there is an increased risk of GBS in defined time periods after vaccination, or after influenza itself, compared with the background risk."--- Professor Elizabeth Miller, head of the Health Protection Agency’s (HPA) Immunisation Department. MailOnline (08/15/09, McFarlane, J.)

The alert to monitor GBS is important to avoid the past experience when the vaccine was given to about 40 million people before it was withdrawn after the side effect emerged. Guillain Barre Syndrome carries a mortality rate of 5 to 6%. As the government strategize to control the swine flu, the public must know the possible complication(s) of the immunization. (Photo Credit: CDC H1N1)=0=

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Labels: complications, diseases, GBS, Guillain Barre Syndrome, H1N1 virus, immunzation, Influenza, Totie Mesia, vaccination, warning

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Nerve disease feared in swine flu vaccination

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