tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
New concern on flu jab-narcolepsy link
Evidence is growing on a link between the swine flu vaccine Pandemrix and the sleep disorder narcolepsy, with at least 13 cases in Ireland now possibly linked to the vaccine.
New research from Sweden published late last week has strengthened the growing evidence of an association between vaccination with Pandemrix and narcolepsy with cataplexy in children and adolescents. The study showed a greater risk than previously reported of narcolepsy developing in young people who received the Pandemrix vaccine.
Here, the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) has advised any concerned parents to contact their GP for advice on assessment, follow-up and management but it has stressed that a definite causal link between the vaccine and narcolepsy has not been confirmed.
Narcolepsy is a disabling chronic brain disorder characterised by frequent excessive daytime sleepiness. Cataplexy (muscle weakness), sleep paralysis and hallucinations often accompany narcolepsy.
The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) told irishhealth.com it had now received 13 reports with clinical information that confirmed a diagnosis of narcolepsy in individuals vaccinated with Pandemrix, but it said a definitive causal link between the vaccine and the brain condition had not yet been established.
However, the IMB added it was aware that investigations are ongoing on other cases where a diagnosis of narcolepsy was suspected and said it was liaising with healthcare professionals and the HSE on this.
The medicines agency said it was aware of the new Swedish research on a possible stronger link than previously reported between narcolepsy and Pandemrix.
The IMB said these results will be considered in the current review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), to which it is affiliated, of all available data on the benefit-risk balance of Pandemrix. This review is expected to be completed by the end of the month.
Back in March, the HSE decided to remove all remaining stocks of Pandemrix from GP surgeries in the wake of a reported narcolepsy link.
http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=19429
Evidence is growing on a link between the swine flu vaccine Pandemrix and the sleep disorder narcolepsy, with at least 13 cases in Ireland now possibly linked to the vaccine.
New research from Sweden published late last week has strengthened the growing evidence of an association between vaccination with Pandemrix and narcolepsy with cataplexy in children and adolescents. The study showed a greater risk than previously reported of narcolepsy developing in young people who received the Pandemrix vaccine.
Here, the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) has advised any concerned parents to contact their GP for advice on assessment, follow-up and management but it has stressed that a definite causal link between the vaccine and narcolepsy has not been confirmed.
Narcolepsy is a disabling chronic brain disorder characterised by frequent excessive daytime sleepiness. Cataplexy (muscle weakness), sleep paralysis and hallucinations often accompany narcolepsy.
The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) told irishhealth.com it had now received 13 reports with clinical information that confirmed a diagnosis of narcolepsy in individuals vaccinated with Pandemrix, but it said a definitive causal link between the vaccine and the brain condition had not yet been established.
However, the IMB added it was aware that investigations are ongoing on other cases where a diagnosis of narcolepsy was suspected and said it was liaising with healthcare professionals and the HSE on this.
The medicines agency said it was aware of the new Swedish research on a possible stronger link than previously reported between narcolepsy and Pandemrix.
The IMB said these results will be considered in the current review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), to which it is affiliated, of all available data on the benefit-risk balance of Pandemrix. This review is expected to be completed by the end of the month.
Back in March, the HSE decided to remove all remaining stocks of Pandemrix from GP surgeries in the wake of a reported narcolepsy link.
http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=19429