# 3906
Ten days ago Japan began vaccinating medical workers against the Shingata (new) flu, using a domestically produced H1N1 vaccine. To date, more than 850,000 vaccinations have been given.
Out of those, a total of 10 serious adverse reactions have been reported, or about 1 in every 85,000 injections. All but one case have `mostly recovered’ according to this article.
While this is a little more than double the rate normally seen with seasonal influenza shots, heightened levels of scrutiny for this vaccination drive may be affecting these numbers.
As stated many times before, no drug is completely benign, and side effects from vaccines – while rare – do occur.
Of course, there is considerable risk in going unvaccinated, as evidenced by the thousands of deaths worldwide since this novel H1N1 outbreak began.
This from the Yomiuri Shimbun
4 more cases of side effects from new-flu vaccine
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Four more cases of serious side effects have been confirmed among medical workers being vaccinated against the new strain of H1N1 influenza, including anaphylaxis and impaired liver functions.
According to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, 10 cases of serious side effects have been confirmed since the vaccination of medical workers began on Oct. 19. The ministry announced the survey results Wednesday.
Except for one case the ministry is still investigating, all other patients who developed serious side effects have mostly recovered, the ministry said.
"Right now we can say the frequency of side effects [from the vaccine] isn't high," a ministry spokesman said.
Among the 10 cases of serious side effects, six--including the four latest cases--occurred from among 850,000 vaccinations administered, or 0.0007 percent.
The corresponding ratio for vaccinations against seasonal flu is 0.0003 percent.
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