Another Vaccine Risk

Carl Lowe | Jul 06, 2013

Many people worry about the health risks of flu shots and other vaccines. And now research in Europe has turned up yet another potential concern.

 

Among children in Europe who were vaccinated with a vaccine called Pandemrix, researchers found an increased risk of narcolepsy. The chief symptom of narcolepsy is excessive daytime sleepiness. Sudden muscle weakness can also take place, triggered by strong emotion (known as cataplexy).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Pandemrix is what is termed a monovalent 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine.

Pandemrix was used in several European countries during the H1N1 influenza pandemic. The narcolepsy problem was initially discovered in Finland, and then some other European countries also detected an association.

Most recently, British scientists uncovered evidence of an association between Pandemrix and narcolepsy in children in England.

Pandemrix is made by by GlaxoSmithKline in Europe and was specifically produced for pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza. It was not used before 2009, and has not been given to anyone since the influenza pandemic season (2009-2010). The vaccine incorporates contains an oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant called ASO3. Adjuvants are compounds included in vaccines to increase the body’s immune response.

The CDC says that Pandemrix was not licensed for use in the United States: “In fact, no adjuvanted influenza vaccines are licensed in the United States, and no adjuvanted influenza vaccines were used in the United States during the influenza pandemic or in any other influenza season.”

http://easyhealthoptions.com/general-health/another-vaccine-risk/