Today's must-read, via Google News, is Helen Branswell's report from The Canadian Press: GSK says still no answer on whether H1N1 vaccine batch triggers more reaction. Excerpt:
The investigation into whether a batch of H1N1 vaccine may have triggered a higher-than-normal rate of allergic reactions hasn't yet come up with answers, vaccine manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline said Tuesday.
And health officials in Quebec said they are still trying to determine if the death of an elderly man who died of anaphylaxis after receiving a pandemic flu shot was triggered or hastened by the vaccination.
"Investigations being undertaken by GSK, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) have not yet been completed," GSK spokesperson Megan Spoore said in an email about the pulled batch of vaccine.
The lot, No. A80CA007A, comprised 172,000 doses of vaccine that were shipped last month to British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Prince Edward Island.
Quebec did not receive vaccine from the batch under investigation.
After discussions with Health Canada, which regulates vaccines, GSK told provinces last week not to use any more doses from this lot after it came to light that six cases of anaphylaxis had been reported in people who had H1N1 shots from the batch.Read the rest of the report for the best explanation of anaphylaxis I've ever read.
