Australia - Flu vaccine ban goes national

[Guest guest]

oh that photo - terrifies me

such a tragedy

hope this wakes up more people

Sheri

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/flu-vaccination-ban-goes-national-after-fever-convulsions-in-children-20100423-tglp.html

Flu vaccination ban goes national after fever, convulsions in

children

Doctors are being advised to stop giving the flu vaccine to children.

Australia's chief medical officer has told doctors to stop giving the

seasonal flu vaccine to children.

The advice follows a decision last night by the WA government to suspend

the free vaccination program over concerns the vaccine was causing high

fevers and convulsions in young children.

" We suggest doctors and health professionals vaccinating children

don't use the seasonal flu vaccine for the moment, until we can get the

Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to investigate this in more

detail, " Professor Jim Bishop told ABC TV.

He said the concerns stemmed from a significant rise in the number of

children developing a fever after receiving the vaccine.

" We need more information about what’s happened in WA, but also what

we can now find out from all the other states from their

experience, " Professor Bishop said.

" If this has been brought up as a possible side-effect of this drug,

then we ought to at least suspend its use until we know

more. "

In light of the seasonal flu shot suspension, Professor Bishop suggested

children get vaccinated against swine flu instead, because that could be

a health risk this winter too.

The state government yesterday announced it was temporarily suspending

its free flu vaccination program for children under five.

Perth mother of two Bea Flint said her 11-month old boy Avery had a

seizure after receiving the first dose of the two-dose flu vaccination on

Saturday.

Ms Flint said that after the 9am vaccination she noticed Avery had a

minor temperature about 2pm. She treated him with Panadol and by Avery's

7pm bedtime he seemed " OK " .

However, at 7.45pm, Avery started whimpering and moaning.

When Ms Flint got to his cot the baby had vomited and was lying on his

side having a seizure.

" In the car driving to the hospital he was just whimpering, " Ms

Flint said.

" He couldn't cry - his head was hanging down in the car seat and he

couldn't move.

" I was petrified - it was one of the worst experiences of my

life. "

By the time Avery arrived at St of God Hospital in Murdoch, he was

burning up with a fever of 39.5 degrees.

The doctor who treated Avery told Ms Flint her baby was the fifth child

with similar symptoms admitted to the hospital that day.

Health Minister Kim Hames last night advised of the suspension as a

precautionary measure.

He said the suspension came after a significant rise in the number of

children who had developed a high temperature after receiving the

vaccine.

He said some children had gone into febrile convulsions, a fit caused by

a high fever, following the vaccinations.

Princess Margaret Hospital figures showed about 22 children had been

brought to the hospital following febrile convulsions possibly linked to

the vaccine in the past month.

Dr Hames said it was unclear if the fevers were related to the influenza

vaccination but the precautionary measure was the most responsible course

of action.

Fevers in most instances are treatable.

" People should give Paracetamol according to the instructions and

tepid sponging to keep the temperature down. " Dr Hames

said.

" On rare occasions children can have a convulsion as the result of

the high temperature and sometimes that can be prolonged, which can be a

risk to the child. "

He said parents should not take children under the age of five to be

vaccinated against influenza until further notice.

WA executive director of public health Tarun Weeramanthri told radio 6PR

that any adverse effects from the vaccines would only last 12

hours.

Perth father Liam said his 16-month-old daughter developed a very high

fever just hours after being given the vaccination earlier this

month.

" We woke up to hear her crying during the night, and when we went in

to get her she was just roasting, " he said.

" The fever was one of the highest she had ever had - she was hot to

the touch - and she was clearly very unhappy.

" I am a big believer in vaccinations, but this one is a real

concern. "

Meryl Dorey

meryl@...

Australian Vaccination Network

Living Wisdom magazine

Investigate before you vaccinate

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