Swine Flu Vaccine Problems Reported in Canada with Allergic Reactions
A batch of 170,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline PLC has been placed on hold in Canada after reports surfaced of an unusually high number of severe allergic reactions to the swine flu vaccine.
Health care professionals in Canada have been asked not to use the batch of vaccines, which only involve a small portion of the 7.5 million doses GlaxoSmithKline indicates they distributed in the country. The batch was only distributed in Canada and the swine flu problems do not appear to have affected any batches in the United States.
GlaxoSmithKline has received at least six reports of severe allergic reactions to swine flu vaccine doses from the batch, and is conducting investigation into whether there is a problem with that particular batch. According to a spokesman for Canada’s health minister, most of doses from the batch have already been given out and the H1N1 vaccine allergic reactions could be a statistical anomaly.
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Learn MoreCanadian health care professionals in six provinces that received the H1N1 vaccine batch on November 2 were alerted to the problem on November 18. Usually, only about two severe allergic reactions can be expected in a vaccine batch of similar size, according to a report in USA Today.
The reported swine flu vaccine reactions occurred immediately after injection, lasted for only a short time and do not appear to have caused any long-term health problems. The cases all included symptoms of anaphylaxis, which includes trouble breathing, tightness of the chest and swelling in the throat and mouth. Anaphylaxis is easily treatable, but can be fatal if untreated.
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MikeOctober 15, 2010 at 10:44 am
I had the H1n1 and flu shot this year because im immuno compromised and my physician kept insisting i have it doone so i did. i have never had the flu vaccine before. about a week after getting the vaccine i had headaches, muscle aches all over, feeling very malaise, felt very nervous for days with rapid heartbeat at times, diahrreah, dizzy and feeling like my brain is like in a fog if that ma[Show More]I had the H1n1 and flu shot this year because im immuno compromised and my physician kept insisting i have it doone so i did. i have never had the flu vaccine before. about a week after getting the vaccine i had headaches, muscle aches all over, feeling very malaise, felt very nervous for days with rapid heartbeat at times, diahrreah, dizzy and feeling like my brain is like in a fog if that makes any sense i will never have a shot again
TeriJune 9, 2010 at 5:27 am
On Nov 10 2009 I got a H1N1 Swine Flu Shot. 3-5 days later my left upper arm hurt down from the injection point (which I thought was high near the shoulder). A number of days later, the ache moved to the other arm. It has now been 6 months, and I have gone through a real ordeal including muscle aches, pains (some severe in arms), twitchings, spasms, shooting pains, all over muscle achiness, mov[Show More]On Nov 10 2009 I got a H1N1 Swine Flu Shot. 3-5 days later my left upper arm hurt down from the injection point (which I thought was high near the shoulder). A number of days later, the ache moved to the other arm. It has now been 6 months, and I have gone through a real ordeal including muscle aches, pains (some severe in arms), twitchings, spasms, shooting pains, all over muscle achiness, moving around of aches (some have stop hurting and moved to another muscle), limited mobility in left arm, pain at night in muscles making it impossible to sleep at times. I've had to sleep with my left arm in a sling so I ddn'n't "over move" my left arm which can put me into very painful, lingering l convolsive movements. I have to watch every movement I make with my left arm so I don't cause it resistence. There are many things I can not do now. The doctor can't seem to help. I am afraid something bad has happened to my right upper arm muscle for this to be going on this long. I've read blogs of folks in my predicament. Are we nothing but statistics with no recourse or help??
LeeFebruary 21, 2010 at 12:04 pm
I received both the H1N1 and Flu Vaccinations on December 23, 2009. 10 days later, I had flu-like symptoms including a migraine lasting for several days (with no fever) followed by numbness in my feet and hands. This was accompanied by back and neck pain and eventually weakness that had me bed ridden at home for 2 weeks. I was then admitted to hospital for another 3 weeks while they tried to diagn[Show More]I received both the H1N1 and Flu Vaccinations on December 23, 2009. 10 days later, I had flu-like symptoms including a migraine lasting for several days (with no fever) followed by numbness in my feet and hands. This was accompanied by back and neck pain and eventually weakness that had me bed ridden at home for 2 weeks. I was then admitted to hospital for another 3 weeks while they tried to diagnose the rapid onset of symptoms. The doctors believe that it was from the flu shot, but that it was probably not Guillian-Barre Syndrome (GBS). However upon my own research I see that there are many different variations of GBS also known as AIDP. I am current at an in-patient rehanb facility working to correct balance and endurance so I can get back to normal life. Although this is not an Anaphlactic reaction, I have been hearing about other cases in my area with similar presentation of symptoms.