State in the dock over swine flu jab effects

Dozens of people, many of them children, have initiated legal proceedings against the State and GlaxoSmithKline after developing narcolepsy following the swine flu vaccine.

According to the NHS, narcolepsy is a rare long-term brain disorder that causes a person to suddenly fall asleep at inappropriate times. Health Minister Simon Harris has confirmed that, as of October 10, legal proceedings had been initiated against him, the HSE, and GlaxoSmithKline Biological SA by 51 individuals.

“The plaintiffs allege personal injury in which they claim the development of narcolepsy (cataplexy) resulted from the administration of the H1N1 pandemic vaccine,” he said in an answer to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil TD, Marc MacSharry.

Cataplexy is a temporary loss of muscle control resulting in weakness and possible collapse, often in response to emotions such as laughter and anger. As part of the country’s response to the swine flu pandemic (H1N1) in 2009, the National Public Health emergency team decided to recommend that all members of the public be vaccinated.

When reports emerged of children and adolescents developing narcolepsy after being given Pandemrix here, a national narcolepsy study steering committee was established made up of experts in paediatrics neurology and epidemiology.

Mr Harris said the committee’s retrospective study of Irish data found there was a 13-fold higher risk of narcolepsy in children and adolescents vaccinated with the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 vaccine compared with those which were unvaccinated.

“The development of narcolepsy following pandemic vaccination is not a uniquely Irish issue. The results from the Irish data concur with those observed in Finland and Sweden,” he said.

The minister said that, as of September 7, the Health Products Regulatory Authority had received 81 reports with clinical information confirming a diagnosis of narcolepsy in people who were vaccinated with Pandemrix and Celvapan. The majority of those reports relate to children/adolescents.

“My department, the HSE, and the Department of Education and Skills continue to work together to provide a wide range of services and supports for those affected by narcolepsy following the administration of pandemic influenza vaccine. The HSE’s Advocacy Unit acts as liaison with service and support providers and other Government departments to facilitate access to required services,” he said, adding that discretionary medical cards have been given to those diagnosed.

Mr MacSharry raised the issue because he has a constituent whose daughter developed narcolepsy which is having a huge impact on her life: “When it comes to these things, it needs to be considered in the future, how do you ascertain the greater good?

“It all boils down to the fact that while the H1N1 was a national crisis at the time, it begs the question whether there was an element of rush to the use of this vaccine without the appropriate testing when one considers the factor of 13 for the increase in risk of narcolepsy.”