Small batch of swine flu vaccines pulled in Canada (~170,000 doses)

AP on San Diego U-T ^ | 11/24/09 | Meera Selva - ap

[NormsRevenge]

LONDON — Canadian doctors have been advised not to use a batch of 170,000 swine flu vaccines after six reports of serious allergic reactions among recipients, but there are no similar reports from other countries, pharmaceuticals company GlaxoSmithKline PLC said Tuesday.

Authorities routinely monitor vaccines for any signals of problems, such as the allergic reactions that do occur, rarely, every year. Company spokeswoman Gwenan White said that GlaxoSmithKline advised medical staff in Canada ast week to refrain from using one batch of the vaccine while they look into reports that that it might have caused more allergic reactions than normal.

Six people in Canada had suffered an allergic reaction, said Tim Vail, the spokesman for Canada's health minister. The batch contained about 170,000 doses. It was not immediately clear how many had been administered, although Vail said the majority had been.

"We're not seeing any thing wild or spooky or crazy about our vaccine at all," Vail said, arguing it may have been a statistical anomaly that the reactions occurred.

[littleharbour]

I’ll take my chances with the virus. This appears to be another situation where the cure may be worse than the illness.

[Freddd]

Now it’s ‘small batch’, hmmmm.

[uncommonsense]

170,000 is what percent of people who may need the vaccine in Canada? Isn’t that about all of the high value targets in the country?