• Germany edition
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Officials say deaths not caused by swine flu shot

Published: 19 Nov 09 11:47 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20091119-23377.html

German health officials on Thursday took the unusual step of debunking speculation that several recent deaths were caused by immunisations against swine flu.

“All of the concerned cases involved people who were already seriously ill,” Susanne Stöcker, spokeswoman from the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) in Berlin, told RBB info radio.

Responsible for approving the vaccines used in Germany, the PEI is hoping to counter public fears immunisation could pose more risks than the actual swine flu virus.

Citing a PEI report, daily paper Bild said on Thursday there had been 11 cases of serious allergic reactions to the immunisation. In most cases, the symptoms appeared 40 minutes after receiving the shot.

Another six people, one of whom was epileptic, suffered from a neurological reaction. The others experienced a variety of symptoms, including a tingling in the right arm, headache, disorientation and double vision.

Bild also reported there have been three cases leading to cardiovascular symptoms and three instances of autoimmune reactions such as fainting and serious infections.

In recent days, there have been two deaths occurring after immunisation for swine flu: a 83-year-old man in Saxony and a small child in Berlin.

Since the vaccine became available, more than 1.5 million people in Germany have been immunised, according to the PEI. Of those, doctors have recorded 652 adverse reactions in 197 patients, aged 10 months to 92 years.

As of Thursday morning, there have been 22 confirmed deaths in Germany caused by swine flu out of more than 60,000 cases. Health authorities confirmed on Monday that two men from Bavaria died from swine flu complications.

German officials believe the rate of new infections has accelerated to 15,000 a week, making it increasingly urgent that people in the high-risk category such as small children and pregnant women become vaccinated.

DDP/The Local (news@thelocal.de)

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Your comments about this article:

15:49 November 19, 2009 by Celeon
I can only say my Pandemrix shot was five days ago and ,i for one, was not killed to death. :-D

My father is also still alive and well.

We had a bit of tireness, mild headache and of course the area where you get the shot will swell a bit and hurt when you touch it just like it is with any vaccination.

Before you get your shot, you have to read the possible side effects informations and put your signature under the statement that you feel well and have no ongoing health conditions you are aware of.

You are also asked about possible allergies you might have. If you have one you know of or suspect you may have one. Tell the doctor !

The doctor will ask you because there are always people who know that they have something but dont tell the doctor for whatever reasons they have.

They get problems, the doctor or the vaccine gets the blame.

He will also tell you that its better not to go to work on the day you get the shot. Stay home and avoid stress or doing sport this helps your body to get along with the shot much better.

If you have some sickness that makes you worry wether it is ok to get the shot, tell the doctor and depending on what it is, he will advice you to take the shot , not to take it at all or to take it later when you're ok again.

If you want to be sure that you are ok, then let your doctor check you before you go the vaccination.
21:35 November 19, 2009 by Davey-jo
I like a bit of scaremongering myself. If all these "victims" of Swine Flu had underlying medical conditions perhaps they would have died anyway so the pandemic actually has claimed no victims at all and we need not take the vaccine.

Meanwhile the seasonal flu is merrily slaughtering its usual quota and nobody mentions it at all. But that is just not news.
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