Law suits claim vaccine caused sleep disorder

A dozen law suits have been initiated against the State, the health minister and a pharmaceutical company by individuals who developed a chronic sleep disorder after receiving a vaccine to protect against swine flu.

Those suing allege personal injury, claiming they developed narcolepsy as a result of receiving the H1N1 pandemic vaccine. The vast majority received Pandemrix, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.

The information is contained in a briefing note to Health Minister Leo Varadkar, which says management of these cases has transferred to the State Claims Agency (SCA).