Preflucel has been recalled amid fears it is making people ill |
A flu
vaccine has been recalled from thousands of surgeries and pharmacies across
Europe amid fears it is making people ill.
The
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a warning
over Preflucel, a popular influenza vaccine.
Around
300,000 doses of the drug are to be immediately withdrawn following fears from
health bosses that the most recent batch, issued last month, is causing
side-effects.
A high
percentage of those vaccinated with Preflucel have reported fatigue, muscle
pain and headaches.
Alternative
products will now be made available to prevent any shortages.
Newbury-based
Baxter Healthcare, which manufacturers the drug, approved for use in March said
that patients with concerns should contact their GP.
A statement
read: 'There has been a higher-than-expected reporting of adverse reactions
after administration of vaccines from this batch.
'Any stock
should be quarantined and returned via the normal channels.
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'No further
Preflucel of any batch should be administered at this time.'
In Scotland
2,500 vaccines have been recalled and Preflucel will not be issued until
further notice.
In response
the Scottish Government has ordered more than 1.1million doses of other flu
drugs.
Despite
fears, a spokesman urged people not to panic: 'This recall does not affect the
flu vaccination programme, for which over 1.1 million doses of other flu
vaccines have been ordered.
Experts say the side-effects are those usually associated with flu vaccines |
'Individuals
who have been vaccinated with Preflucel should not be concerned.
'Most of
the side-effects are those usually associated with flu vaccines - they have
started shortly after the vaccination and have been mild and short-lived.
'The
vaccine is being recalled because these side-effects have been reported more
frequently with this specific batch.'
It was
labelled as suitable for patients with allergies because it does not contain
egg and is expected to provide up to 80 per cent protection against influenza.
A spokesman
said the recall was a 'precautionary measure' due to reports of adverse
reactions.
Preflucel
is one of 13 different flu vaccines being used to protect people against the
winter virus.
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