WHO to Investigate Link Between H1N1 Vaccine and Narcolepsy in Children
_Featured_, Vaccines Thursday, February 3rd, 2011
Is your child at risk of contracting narcolepsy from H1N1 vaccine?
GlaxoSmithKline’s H1N1 flu vaccine is under investigation after a Finnish study found children may be nine times more likely to develop the sleeping disorder narcolepsy. It will now be up to the World Health Organization to examine and confirm the research. The study found that children aged four to 19 years old had the increased risk in developing the disease.
The National Institute for Health and Welfare (NIHW) suggests that the Pandemrix brand vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline combined with other factors may be the most likely cause for the increase in narcolepsy cases. GSK though aware they were being investigated but said it was too early to determine anything conclusively. European drug regulators are already conducting their own independent investigation.
“GSK is reviewing the report and believes it would be premature to draw any conclusions on a potential association between Pandemrix and narcolepsy until this European investigation has been completed,” said the British drug manufacturer.
The investigations by the Finnish institute should be completed by August 2011.
Source(s): thepharmaletter.com, Reuters.com, yle.fi
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