GlaxcoSmithKline have recalled a batch of approximately 170,000 H1N1 vaccines in Canada due to a number of allergic reactions in people; although the Canadian government has stated that there is no cause for alarm, and only one batch of the H1N1 vaccine is being held back, there are conflicting reports over how serious the allergic reactions may have been. The batch in question is no longer in use, under advice health care officials in Canada received on November 18th from GlaxoSmithkline in the U.K, and other batches of the H1N1 vaccine are so far unaffected. The affected batch was released at the end of October 2009.
An associated press report stated that H1N1 vaccines in the rest of the world were unaffected by the incident. There are a number of H1N1 vaccines approved for use around the world, five of which are currently FDA-approved for use in the U.S.
H1N1 FDA- approved vaccines
Reports surrounding the H1N1 vaccine ingredients have been mixed and confusing; many pregnant women are concerned about taking the H1N1 vaccine because of reports in miscarriages and the effect of the thimerosal ingredient (a mercury preservative) found in some H1N1 vaccines. The FDA-approved H1N1 vaccines in the U.S. are:
- H1N1 Monovalent Vaccine (Sanofi Pasteur, Inc.) - injectable
- H1N1 Monovalent Vaccine (CSL Limited) – injectable
- H1N1 Monovalent Vaccine (Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Ltd) – injectable
- H1N1 Monovalent Vaccine (ID Biomedical Corporation of Quebec) – injectable
- H1N1 Monovalent Vaccine (MedImmune LLC) – intranasal.
Warnings for pregnant and nursing mothers taking the H1N1 vaccine
Pregnant and nursing mothers should refer to the package inserts and warnings to determine the full ingredients of a particular H1N1 vaccine before making a decision to have the H1N1 vaccine.
CopyrightSharonFalsetto2009
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