Health written question – answered at on 12 May 2009.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to investigate recent reports of partial paralysis and severe chronic fatigue syndrome experienced by a number of girls shortly after receiving the Cervarix vaccine.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) considers the safety of vaccines to be of paramount importance and has in place a proactive strategy to monitor the safety of Cervarix vaccine as girls are immunised in the United Kingdom.
To date almost one million doses of Cervarix have been given in the UK and there is no evidence to suggest that Cervarix vaccine has caused chronic fatigue syndrome, paralytic disorders or any other serious or long-term side effects.
Yes0 people think so
No2 people think not
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Annotations
Grace Filby
Posted on 13 May 2009 6:58 pm (Report this annotation)
Indeed, there is evidence - and it is here in Reigate, Surrey.
A consultant paediatrician has written: "a link between vaccine and arthralgia is really well established".
If your Department and Surrey PCT had heeded my concerns back in September and October, then at least one young girl would have been spared the pain and suffering of not being able to walk, and would still be able to go to school with her friends. Instead she has been off school for weeks, as the attendance records would show.
Now is not the time for just a monitoring strategy! Other girls are actually suing the manufacturers GSK - how many more? I suggest you actually look at the evidence and call a halt to the whole programme meanwhile.
Mr Crispin Blunt is right to raise this important question and to secure a debate in the House of Commons this evening.