Warning over swine flu vaccine use for children

SWINE flu vaccine Pandemrix should only be administered to people under 20 years if the recommended annual flu vaccine is not available.

The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), issued the advice after it finalised its review of a possible link between Pandemrix vaccination and narcolepsy. This followed an increased number of reported cases of narcolepsy (sudden and uncontrolled episodes of deep sleep) among children and adolescents in Finland and Sweden.

While stressing that further research is necessary, the CHMP recommends that Pandemrix should only be used in people under 20 years of age if the recommended annual seasonal trivalent influenza vaccine is not available.