Ban on flu vaccine for young kids lifted

30/07/2010 | 08:11 PM

A ban has been lifted on two flu vaccines for children under five after a series of adverse reactions earlier this year.

Australia's chief medical officer, Professor Jim Bishop, says close monitoring of side effects has shown the convulsions appeared to be confined to the vaccine Fluvax, manufactured by CSL.

He said investigations locally and overseas indicated there did not seem to be a higher than normal incidence of convulsions in children under five with the other seasonal flu vaccines, Influvac and Vaxigrip.

"While to date it has still not been possible to identify a biological or other basis that would explain the higher than expected observed rates of fever and febrile convulsions with Fluvax, the investigations are continuing," Prof Bishop said.

"In the meantime I am now advising that if parents of children under five years of age wish to have their children vaccinated against seasonal flu that they should discuss with their GP or vaccine provider the use of Vaxigrip or Influvac."

He said it should be noted that influenza itself often causes fever in young children that can lead to adverse reactions.

CSL Biotherapies medical and research director Darryl Maher said the company's team of experts continued to work with regulator the Therapeutic Goods Administration to determine the cause of febrile convulsions associated with Fluvax.

"The unexpectedly high rate of these events has not been seen in previous seasons, nor following the use of our H1N1 have pandemic vaccine, and our manufacturing processes have not changed," Dr Maher said in a statement.

"CSL supports a precautionary approach to the use of its influenza vaccine in children while investigations continue into the cause of the unexpected increase in febrile reactions."