Canada pulls batch of 170,000 swine flu vaccines

If one in 20,000 are admitted to have had a serious reaction, and only 1 reaction in 100 is ever reported, you can just imagine how serious these side effects actually were!

GlaxoSmithKline has advised doctors in Canada to stop using a batch of its swine flu vaccine, amid reports of severe side-effects in some patients.

The batch of some 170,000 doses was put on voluntary hold because of a reported higher than usual number of patients having anaphylactic reactions.

This may include breathing problems, raised heart rate and skin rashes.

The pharmaceutical company said it had advised that one lot of the Arepanrix vaccine should not be used.

Reports said one in 20,000 people suffered adverse reactions to the batch.