Guillain-Barre Syndrome and Swine Flu Vaccine
November 29th, 2011 | 
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What happened in 1976 with the GBS and the swine flu vaccine?
At first, scientists reported a suspicious connection between GBS and vaccinations in 1976, during a national vaccination campaign against swine flu virus. The investigation revealed that recipients of the vaccine were at an increased risk of GBS than those who were not vaccinated (approximately 1 additional case per 100,000 vaccinees). Because of this association and the fact that the swine flu disease was limited, the vaccination program was stopped.
Since then, numerous studies have been conducted to evaluate if other flu vaccines were associated with GBS. In most studies found no association, but two studies suggest that about 1 person out of 1 million vaccinated people may be at risk of GBS associated with vaccination against seasonal influenza.
Why are some people developed GBS after receiving the swine flu vaccine in 1976?
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) conducted a thorough scientific study in 2003 and concluded that those who received the swine influenza vaccine in 1976 and ran with a slight increased risk of GBS. Scientists have multiple theories as to why it happens this increased risk, but the precise reason for this association is unknown.
Do they expect the H1N1 flu vaccine in 2009 is associated with GBS?
We hope that a vaccine against 2009 H1N1 flu has a safety profile similar to that of seasonal flu vaccines, which have a track record of very good safety. The vaccine against seasonal influenza has not been consistently associated with GBS.
Investigate how public health authorities of cases of GBS?
Ensuring the safety of vaccines is a matter of high priority for CDC. CDC and its partners have an aggressive plan to actively monitor the H1N1 vaccine in 2009. There are several systems to monitor vaccine safety. One such system is the Adverse Event Reporting System to vaccines (VAERS).
The CDC and the FDA jointly administer VAERS, which functions as a system for collecting voluntary reports on possible side effects that people experience after the shot. Scientists at the CDC and the FDA reviewed all VAERS reports and store the information in computer databases to identify new health events, unusual or rare that may be possible side effects of vaccines.
In addition to safety monitoring systems of the vaccine, the CDC is proactively putting additional monitoring systems to ensure safety after licensure. Some of these systems include: observing people actively in defined geographic areas, working with professional organizations to prepare reports of any adverse reactions after vaccination and conduct investigations when serious adverse reactions occur to determine if they are related to the vaccine. Through this range of approaches, we can detect it early in the vaccination campaign any possible risk of GBS that may be associated with the vaccine against the H1N1 and 2009 and to take appropriate action.
How will the federal government if the people receiving the vaccine against H1N1, 2009 are at higher risk for GBS?
Each year there are cases of GBS in the general population for several reasons. To monitor whether people who received the vaccine against 2009 H1N1 are at increased risk of GBS, the public health officials determine whether the United States the number of GBS cases reported among persons who received vaccine H1N1 2009 is greater than the number of cases in the general population.
Should there be an increase in the number of reported cases, public health officials conducted intensive research. Will inform public health officials and the general public in case of detecting any problems with the vaccine against H1N1, 2009, and both the public and health officials take the necessary measures to ensure the health and safety public.
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