Personal Injury Law

Europe probes swine flu shot, narcolepsy link

By Hurley, McKenna & Mertz

The European Medicines Agency is investigating whether there is a link between the swine flu vaccine and narcolepsy, a rare disorder that causes people to fall asleep suddenly. (AP London, 8/27). The agency says its investigation is in response to a ?limited number of narcolepsy cases,? mainly in Sweeden and Finland. Those individuals got the Pandemrix shot manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline PLC.

Additionally, French officials are now stating that they have been notified of six cases of narcolepsy after being vaccinated. However, at this point, the European Medicines Agency is unsure if the vaccine caused the disorder, or if it is merely coincidental.
The vaccine, Pandemrix, was approved by the Agency in September and has since been used to vaccinate about 30 million Europeans.

As a Chicago area products liability attorney, I am hopeful that the United States counterparts to the EMA are likewise investigating the potential connection between the Swine Flu vaccine and narcolepsy.

Full post as published by Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer Blog on August 30, 2010 (boomark / email).