An influenza A/H1N1 vaccine found to increase risk of a sleeping disorder among children is yet to be sold in Vietnam, a health official said Thursday.
Nguyen Van Binh, chief of the Department of Preventive Health under the Ministry of Health, said the vaccine currently used in Vietnam is a “three-in-one” kind, covering the A/H3N2, B and A/H1N1 influenza viruses.
The Pandemrix flu vaccine in question, made by GlaxoSmithKline, is not available here, he said.
The World Health Organization’s Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety last week reviewed data from a Finnish study, which found that children injected with Pandemrix were nine times more likely to contract narcolepsy than those who were not vaccinated, according to an AFP report.
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder which causes extreme fatigue and often results in the patient falling soundly asleep without warning, even in the middle of an activity.
Nguyen Nhat Cam of Hanoi’s Preventive Health Center said last October that the capital had begun
swine flu vaccination campaign and was yet to record any case with abnormal symptoms.
Earlier this week the Department of Preventive Health reported that 96 cases of influenza A/H1N1 infection, including one death, has been recorded nationwide since the beginning of this year.
