‘No support’ for children suffering vaccine side-effects

Parents of children who developed a chronic sleep disorder after receiving the Pandemrix swine flu vaccine have criticised government delays in putting a framework in place to support their children’s needs.

Máiréad Lawless, whose 7-year-old son Alex developed narcolepsy in 2010 after taking the vaccine, said they had expected a paper to go to the Oireachtas before the summer recess outlining proposals for a range of supports for families affected by the disorder.

This did not happen and parents represented by Sound — Sufferers of Unique Narcolepsy Disorder — were then hopeful the proposals would be ready this month.

However, Ms Lawless said the paper had not been progressed and it will now be next month before anything goes to the Government. The families have received medical cards but Ms Lawless said they need “gold-plated” medical cards that will “at the very least” cover the costs of visits to consultants and associated medication.

She said they hope that parents would be approved for the domiciliary care allowance (DCA).

“I can only work part-time, I have to be at home in the afternoon, Alex needs to nap, but not to oversleep, he needs supervision with homework. Sound has a meeting next month and we will be encouraging families to apply for the DCA,” Ms Lawless said.

Sound represents families of about 35 children it believes have been affected in Ireland by the Pandemrix vaccine.

Ms Lawless said while some progress had been made with the department, they needed a more co-ordinated response that would address their children’s health and educational needs on a long-term basis.

“We do feel the department is trying to work with us, but we are very disappointed the paper has not yet gone to government. We are hoping it will address our children’s needs as well as looking at the matter of ongoing costs and compensation,” she said.

The side-effects of the vaccine range from extreme tiredness, fatigue, weakness, and fainting to chronically disturbed sleep patterns, nightmares, hallucinations, slurred speech, and depression.