Six allergic reactions to H1N1 jab

Wednesday 25th November 2009

Doctors in Canada have stopped using a batch of swine-flu vaccines after six recipients became seriously ill, pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline says.

Spokesman Gwenan White said the firm had advised medical staff to refrain from using the particular batch while the cause of the reaction was investigated, adding that no other stocks had been affected.

White said the company always monitored drugs for signs of problems, but that allergic reactions in some people were always a risk.

Tim Vail, a spokesman for Canada’s health minister, confirmed that six people had suffered an adverse reaction to the vaccine, adding that the majority of the batch in question had now been administered.

"We're not seeing any thing wild or spooky or crazy about our vaccine at all," Vail said.

GlaxoSmithKline has distributed around 7.5 million doses of the vaccine in Canada.

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