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Health

Study: Flu Vaccine Might Increase Narcolepsy Risk in Teens, Children

Mar. 4, 2013 8:21am Liz Klimas

A vaccine meant to protect against swine flu has been associated with an increased risk for sleep disorders among teens and children in a recent study, supporting similar conclusions of past studies as well.

The study published in the British Medical Journal Tuesday found that the A/H1N1 2009 influenza vaccine, known as Pandemrix, might be associated with narcolepsy, a disorder characterized by “excessive sleepiness and frequent daytime sleep attacks.” Previous studies that have suggested this were from Finland and Sweden, according to the BMJ’s press release.

Swine Flu Vaccine Pandemrix Associated With Narcolepsy in Children in British Study

(Photo: AP/Volker Hartmann/ddp/dapd)

When the pandemic H1N1 virus was spreading in 2009, the vaccine was created and, according to BMJ, administered by March 2010 to about 24 percent of healthy children under 5 years old and 37 percent between 2 and 15 who were in a risk group in England.

It wasn’t long before concerns were raised in the Scandinavian countries about the vaccine’s potential link to narcolepsy. It was later supported by the 2012 study from Finland, which saw those age 4 to 19 who had the vaccine seemed to be 13 times more likely to develop narcolepsy, BMJ reported. Some considered this an isolated event, but this most recent study might suggest otherwise.

The researchers collected clinical information and results from sleep tests between August 2011 and February 2012 for participants age 4 to 18. Based on their retrospective analysis, the results “[indicate] a causal association, consistent with findings from Finland.” In fact, this study found the increased risk was 14-fold.

“This study shows a significantly increased risk of narcolepsy in children who received the AS03 adjuvanted pandemic strain vaccine in England. Our case coverage method gave an odds ratio of 14.4 (4.3 to 48.5) for the primary analysis and is consistent with the relative risk of 13 reported from Finland in a retrospective cohort study,” the authors wrote. “The lack of reported cases in other European states and Canada after the initial case reports from Finland and Sweden in August 2010 led to speculation that some unidentified factor was operating in these countries and that the association, if real, might be restricted to these Scandinavian populations. Our study confirms the signal raised from Finland and Sweden and indicates that the association is not restricted to those populations.”

Reuters reported the risk in this latest study was about one in 50,000 people vaccinated while the risk in Finland and Sweden, where it is reported vaccine use was more widespread, was one in 16,000 to 17,000.

The authors do note that several limitations with their study might result in an overestimated association between the vaccine and narcolepsy. Because of this, they write that long term follow-up would be needed to more definitively attribute risk.

The vaccine’s maker GlaxoSmithKlein issued a statement to Reuters regarding the study’s findings:

A spokesman for the British drugmaker told Reuters on Wednesday: “We really want to get to the bottom of this and understand more about the potential role of Pandemrix in the development of narcolepsy.”

He added, however, that GSK believes “the available data are insufficient to assess the likelihood of a causal association between Pandemrix and narcolepsy.”

The authors did point out that the people for whom this vaccine would be used was changed by the European Medicines Agency in 2011 as a precaution. But it can still be manufactured and sold to European countries.

“Further studies to assess the risk, if any, associated with the other A/H1N1 2009 vaccines used in the pandemic, including those with and without adjuvants, are also needed to inform the use of such vaccines in the event of a future pandemic,” the authors concluded.

Nature cited its 2011 article posted about the initial studies associating narcolepsy with the vaccine that read while many who oppose vaccine use might point to the studies and “scream ‘side-effects,’” it believes the “sober reality is that not using modern and safe vaccines causes many more people to become ill or die than any rare side-effect.”

Read the full study here.

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Related:

Featured image via Shutterstock.com.

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Comments (34)

cosmic dogma
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 11:46pm
When you inject a modified live virus into your body, you must understand there may be repercussions unknown by the pharma companies. It is a weakened live virus. Its effects differ from person to person, depending on the individuals immune response. Not everyone is able to process and properly develop a “normal” immune response to injection of live virus. Have had very bad reactions in my horses to modified live vaccines, including and most tragic- the death of one of my beautiful yearling colts. Thought I was being responsible and diligent owner, by adhering to “proper” vaccination schedule. I was wrong. So, think twice about injecting foreign material into your body, make sure the benefits out weigh the possible consequences.

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johnbrown
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 6:35pm
If you gave me enough time I could prove that Juicy Fruit causes leprosy. Take these studies with a grain of salt.

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pandora665
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 3:44pm
Not sure why The Blaze decided to report on this, it is extremely misleading unless one has some understanding of research science.

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loki1830
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 1:07pm
most people would prefer to take drugs and listen 100% to doctors to try and take care of their diseases and ills that could have been prevented with proper nutrition and excercise and mental care.
90%
+ of all diseases preventable.

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bumfuzeled
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 12:41pm
Have to shake my head at so many with so little knowledge, eager to call others conspiracy nuts, find a conspiracy of their own to believe in. Just check out the U.S. and World wide flu death numbers. Then compare the death numbers of vaccinated and unvaccinated, I dare you. Don’t be afraid until you are all more educated. The government does not want vaccines, they want the weak to pass of natural causes. How is that for conspiracy?

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bumfuzeled
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 12:33pm
Correlation does NOT equal Causation.

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Libertyluvnmomma
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 10:51am
I personally enjoy the flu vaccines’ 1% efficacy rate!
Rather than cutting teens should try vaccination.

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G-WHIZ
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 10:41am
…and yet another “MAYBE!!” government-generated CRISIS for them to love and use!! Donna forget…it’sa the ALLEGATIONS…no INNOCENT-BEFORE-GUILTY for the PROGS!!

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vaman
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 10:34am
Another irresponsible blaze story. The fringe of society that follow the blaze and agree with its principles already feel vaccines are some kind of devil work perpetrated by the evil government. Blaze writers should keep in the forefront of their minds, the typical blaze reader is the least educated, least sophisticated, most superstitious and generally easily swayed person . Although vaccines have saved virtually countless millions of lives, a certain group of people feel vaccines are not needed, perpetuating illness and death in mostly children and the elderly. The blaze should be more aware of its readers and their abilities of comprehension.

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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on March 4, 2013 at 10:48am
  The government says every single American should be taking the flu shot every year. You don’t see anything wrong with that? At the same time, the flu vaccine manufacturers have not listed all the ingredients in the flu shot and are protected from doing so by “patent rights”. So the government doesn’t even know everything that is in it but thinks we should all be taking it?
  
  If an old person wants to take the flu shot because they think it will help them survive the winter – fine. But if the schools in our area start forcing all the kids to have them whether their parents consent or not – I swear to God I will take up arms
  
  Report this comment
- IndyGuy
  Posted on March 4, 2013 at 11:56am
  @VAMAN..I suppose you also voted for Obama and believe in global warming eh???
  
  Report this comment
- Execmech
  Posted on March 4, 2013 at 1:04pm
  Vmann is mad at the world because his parents made him eat his veggies when he was a little boy. I feel sorry for his mother.
  
  Report this comment
- cosmic dogma
  Posted on March 4, 2013 at 11:53pm
  Vaman, if you find us so simple minded, what does that say about your decided amusement in perusing the articles and comments? You are either deluded, or an amazingly arrogant bore.
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on March 6, 2013 at 12:29pm
  Vaman is innumerate.
  
  As such his opinions are to be treated with great care. Some of them might be right, but only by chance.
  
  Report this comment
SocialistSlayer
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 9:22am
Warning : Do not take Flu Shots ! They can lower your Immune System and make you susceptible to many diseases such as Gillium Barre’ Syndrome. They do nothing to protect you from current strains of Flu and our bodies need to be exposed to the Flu ( As we have for thousands of years) it helps us to build resistance they natural way – and pass it on to our children.

Waning : Do not take the Flu Shots !

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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on March 4, 2013 at 10:00am
  Not to mention all the aluminum that is unnaturally injected into the body. Natural methods are best, never trust the government
  
  Report this comment
- truthnstuff
  Posted on March 4, 2013 at 12:32pm
  But there is a pandemic looming on the horizon! We will all die!
  
  Wait…..of course it is another opportunity for the slip and fall lobby there somewhere.
  
  Report this comment
- bumfuzeled
  Posted on March 4, 2013 at 12:35pm
  Wow even the misinformed can post
  
  Report this comment
Spitfire1938
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 9:20am
Got the shot last December… had flu within 48hrs!

Never again!

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IndyGuy
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 9:19am
Trust us…We’re the Government….

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The Big Mick
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 9:12am
All I know is that THEY REFUSE to do Double Blind Studies with UN-Vaccinated Control Groups in order to ACTUALLY DETERMINE the risks to Our Children of the DOZENS of Vaccines–some for SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES–that they pump into our babies with Fire Hoses before they are of School Age.
Until they DO, then I will ACCEPT the anecdotal evidence from the Autism Community of Late Onset Autism apparently triggered by Vaccines.
My first son is Autistic.
My second DID NOT HAVE the Measles Mumps Rubella Combined Vaccine, he is not.

I may not be able to tell when am I being LIED to, and who is doing the lying, but I CAN tell when The Powers that Be REFUSE to DO the Science and make ASSUMPTIONS because it is EASIER.

Vaccinations, at bottom, are Rule by the Collective. Certain members of “the group” are put at FAR GREATER RISK in order to take the EASIEST WAY of lowering the Risk for the ENTIRE Group.
A different kind of 99 verses 1 %.

Where are you “Libertarians” on THIS?

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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on March 4, 2013 at 9:20am
  government-pharmaceutical complex
  
  bad news for individuals and freedom
  
  Report this comment
- The Big Mick
  Posted on March 4, 2013 at 9:30am
  Soy, I can always count on you to take my thinking up a notch.
  
  Report this comment
RaydocX
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 9:11am
ah yes… narcoleptic autistic ‘spectrum’ victims if not killed by SIDS due to the infant immunizations, first. another statistical analysis performed with a focus on something to scare the sheeple and politicians into coughing up more federal funds to ‘continue research.’

Immunizations save lives. Period. While oversight is necessary to prevent Chinese manufacture from slipping mercury in, for example, and to keep American corporations honest, they protect far more than they do harm.

The biggest issue with immunizations since the ‘shortage’ two years ago is hospitals forcing employees to get the flu vaccine… in September. The vaccine doesn’t last maximally into the real ‘flu season’ and is formulated from the prior year’s types, so it is less effective. Another case of those with power addressing emotional concerns rather than using logic and reason and coming up with the best solution.

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- The Big Mick
  Posted on March 4, 2013 at 9:33am
  And I say BULLSHEITE, Ray.
  Not even that, Heifer Methane. It lacks the Balls to be Bull and the Substance to be sheite.\
  You ASSUME it “saves’ lives. You ASSUME that the side effects are LESS than the effects of an “outbreak” would be. YOU DO NOT KNOW what all the vaccines are doing IN COMBINATION.
  WHY do you not know? BECAUSE THEY WON’T DO the RESEARCH!
  
  Report this comment
- The Big Mick
  Posted on March 4, 2013 at 9:40am
  And Raydoc.
  What is YOUR logic for the order of magnitude increase in Autism Cases? Frigid Mom? Better Reporting? Any other LOGIC?
  
  My son’s Autism Doc at Kluge Children’s Clinic Univ.of VA Med Center says “genetic with ENVIRONMENTAL TRIGGER”.
  
  Yeah, Vaccines saved somebody else’s life. Gave MY kid Autism. If you are going to DEMAND I make that trade then the LEAST you owe me are actually STUDIES to quantify the RISKS!
  The “sheeple” Scam here is the “all for one one for all” Vaccine mentality.
  
  Report this comment
- soybomb315_II
  Posted on March 4, 2013 at 10:40am
  AIDS medication also saves lives….Why doesn’t the government just start injecting us all with AIDS medication in order to save lives? Why not just put it in the drinking water? There is no end to this madness.
  
  It is time to wake up and realize that not everyone is a ‘kook’ or ‘crazy’. There really are evil forces at work and they are not confined to the democrat party. Drugs are used by the government to control people – read up your history. Nazis were big believers in it.
  
  Report this comment
thewhiteright
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 9:10am
No surprize, some years ago it caused Guillain-Barré syndrome, I think the flu vaccine is a government test program to study the effects. Just wait till obama care mandates/requires the needle to your arm.

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Sargeking
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 9:03am
Par for the course, Commissar Sebelius has once again totally refused to take the flu vaccine. One might opine, “Better for her to skate the danger than kids”.

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Gonzo
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 8:37am
How long until flu shots are mandated by the U.S. government under Obamacare…all with the “good intentions” of bringing down healthcare costs?

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- Sargeking
  Posted on March 4, 2013 at 9:14am
  You’re asking a very good question. We haven’t seen anything yet close to a bottom of the Obamacare pit.
  
  Report this comment
- Spitfire1938
  Posted on March 4, 2013 at 9:24am
  It’s not a pit, it’s the END of US!
  
  Report this comment
- The Big Mick
  Posted on March 4, 2013 at 9:35am
  Spit.
  If you really believe that then I suggest the alternatives are obvious.
  I do not intend to “go gentle into that good nigh”. As Capt. Mal Reynolds of “Serenity” says: “I intend to misbehave.”
  
  Report this comment
soybomb315_II
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 8:24am
just a bunch of crazy vaccine-truthers, as glenn beck would say

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