Thai Woman Suffers Miscarriage After Getting H1n1 Flu Shot

[george]

Woman suffers miscarriage after getting H1N1 flu shot

BANGKOK: -- A senior public health official in Thailand's southern province of Satun on Thursday confirmed that a seven-months pregnant woman suffered a miscarriage following her immunisation with the A(H1N1) vaccine.

Dr Samruam Danprachankul, senior public health official said the cause of the death was still unknown, and that lab tests are being conducted to find out if miscarriage is related to the vaccination or not.

Wantana Lamor, 33 was given two shot against the Influenza type A(H1N1) on January 25 and 26 at Satun’s Thungwa Hospital. After the inoculation, her unborn baby did not move, so she went to hospital for check-up and found that it died.

The Satun governor ordered that vaccinations of pregnant women be suspended while awaiting autopsy results.

Another case is that of Dongporn Saengsuwan, 32, who was vaccinated on the same day as Ms Wantana. She experienced pains in the back of her head. Taking a painkiller, she went into colvulsions, was sent to hospital and her baby was delivered prematurely by Caesarian operation, alive, but in worrisome condition.

About 5,000 pregnant women have been vaccinated countryside, with only a few experienced minor side effects.

Meanwhile, Director-General Dr Manit Teeratantikanont of the Department of Disease Control was interviewed by Modernine TV, saying the A(H1N1) vaccine given to high-risk groups--including pregnant women--met international standards.

There have been reports of miscarriage in other countries, he said, adding that miscarriages occurred in the woman in Satun needed more time to check her medical record and probe further into whether the foetal death was related to the vaccine.

Meanwhile, the director-general said, the nationwide H1N1 vaccine campaign would continue.

-- TNA 2010-01-28

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[ScubaBuddha]

Sad indeed. But the indirect reasoning shown by supposed professionals following the incident is the most worrisome. Suspend vaccinations to pregnant women because of one, maybe two incidents out of 5000 that are not likely to be related to the vaccine anyway? This is absurd. Swine is killing a lot of pregnant women around the world, and more may die due to this bad decision.

Edited January 28, 2010 by ScubaBuddha

[teatree]

I don't know why ANY person would want to take the shot let alone a pregnant one.

[crusader79]

I don't know why ANY person would want to take the shot let alone a pregnant one.

A CDC analysis shows that pregnant women are more likely than the general population to develop severe disease after infection with the pandemic H1N1 swine flu virus. They are four times more likely to be hospitalized, with an unusually high death rate.

Although media reports have focused on deaths among pregnant women with underlying disease, most pregnant women who have died of swine flu were healthy when they caught the pandemic virus.

It's not a new phenomenon:

• During seasonal flu epidemics, pregnant women -- especially those in the third trimester -- are far more likely to be hospitalized for lung and heart disease than women who recently delivered a child (considered the closest comparison group).
  
• In a study of 1,350 women who had flu during the 1918 pandemic, about half the women got pneumonia and about half of the women with pneumonia died -- a case-fatality rate of 27%. Women in their third trimester were particularly vulnerable.
  
• During the 1957 flu pandemic, pregnant women accounted for half of the flu deaths among Minnesota women of reproductive age.
  

There's also a risk to the fetus. In past pandemics, there were high rates of stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, and premature delivery among pregnant women who had the flu. Flu comes with fever, which can result in brain damage to the fetus.

Why? It's not entirely clear, but there are two likely mechanisms:

• As pregnancy evolves, a woman's diaphragm is pushed upward and she has decreased lung capacity. This makes respiratory disease more dangerous.
  
• During pregnancy, a woman's immune system shifts away from the kinds of immune responses most effective in battling viral infections. This makes her more susceptible to some viral diseases such as flu.
  

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=104180

[personchester]

I don't know why ANY person would want to take the shot let alone a pregnant one.

Yes, women in particular must be very careful and very cautious when taking medications, vaccinations, or even various multivitamins whilst pregnant, and I am surprised the the medical staff did not point this out to her.

[senshusband]

I don't know why ANY person would want to take the shot let alone a pregnant one.,

I agree 100%. My wife and I both refuse to get the vaccine for the fact we don't want to weaken our immune system. Today, people are doing things to their bodies that are not a natural cycle. Somethings such as polio, typhoid, measels, mumps, rubella, etc. are some things we get shots for when we are young and have no choice, really, but why? When is the last time you heard of these diseases? Plus, people are so heavily medicated that their bodies don't have a chance to fight sickness.

[animatic]

I don't know why ANY person would want to take the shot let alone a pregnant one.,

I agree 100%. My wife and I both refuse to get the vaccine for the fact we don't want to weaken our immune system. Today, people are doing things to their bodies that are not a natural cycle. Somethings such as polio, typhoid, measels, mumps, rubella, etc. are some things we get shots for when we are young and have no choice, really, but why? When is the last time you heard of these diseases? Plus, people are so heavily medicated that their bodies don't have a chance to fight sickness.

Mumps is going around my daughters school this week actually.

I am having a debate internally on the vaccination issue,

I had it many years ago as a child no issues,

but my I have no clue if my wife had it since the name doesn't translate

to the language she would have spoken at that time...

I do remember mumps is quite bad in older women...

A quandry.

Rubela / Measles gives some nasty scarring, not nice for ladies.

Tetanus is a very bad one, and though polio is all but wiped out, it is not gone.

I am quite understanding about building up your immune system and avoid antibiotics

as much as feasible. I had a bad ear infection a week or so back,

and that did call for them... grudgingly.

Mumps, well no one is pregnant, so I guess if she gets it she gets it.

[Thai at Heart]

I don't know why ANY person would want to take the shot let alone a pregnant one.,

Somethings such as polio, typhoid, measels, mumps, rubella, etc. are some things we get shots for when we are young and have no choice, really, but why? When is the last time you heard of these diseases?

Somethings are better not said I think.

Edited January 28, 2010 by Thai at Heart

[surangw]

I wonder who is profiting from the yearly flu panic ??

[webfact]

UPDATE

Doctors say flu shots okay for healthy pregnant mothers

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

Published on January 29, 2010

Doctors say flu shots okay for healthy pregnant mothers

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry is investigating why a pregnant 39yearold woman from Satun province miscarried last year, one day after receiving an influenza vaccine shot.

At the same time, hospital staff have been instructed to carefully check the condition of pregnant women and delay vaccine shots if they show signs of being unwell.

The Satun woman was into the 29th week of pregnancy and was admitted first to Thung Wa district hospital and later transferred to Satun hospital where doctors confirmed her unborn baby had died.

Public Health Ministry permanentsecretary, Dr Phaijit Warachit, said doctors would send a sample of her blood for testing to Prince of Songkla University to find if there's a connection between the flu vaccination and the pregnancy complication. The result will be released within a week.

Phaijit said the Satun province's public health office reported to the ministry that another 32 yearold woman, 33 weeks pregnant, had delivered a premature boy after receiving a 2009 flu shot. However in this case the woman had been taken to hospital after a falling accident.

At Songkla province's Hat Yai Hospital doctors found she had a brain haemorrage and she underwent surgery . They also conducted a caesarian section to save the baby, and mother and child are now under observation. Phaijit said the preterm birth was not linked to the vaccination.

The pregnancy complication found in the Satun province has prompted the Public Health Ministry to suspend vaccinations for pregnant women in the province. It will be resumed only after the ministry's academic team has defined the exact cause of the complication.

In a third case, the Department of Disease Control's deputydirector Dr Nopporn Cheunklin said he had been told a Phatthalung woman, five months pregnant, had developed a lung infection two days after vaccination and she and her child were in Songklanagarind Hospital for observation. He believes the mother might be suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Department of Disease Control's director, Dr Manit Teeratantikanont said 6,000 pregnant women had received flu shots since the vaccination programme started on January 11. Only two appeared to have suffered complications. On average, he said, seven in every 1,000 babies die during pregnancy for a variety of reasons, whether their mothers receive a vaccine or not.

The Public Health Ministry has set a target to give flu shots to 500,000 pregnant women across the country.

Phra Nang Klao Hospital director, Dr Somchai Thepchareonnirand said the Nonthaburibased hospital had instructed its staff to study the records of pregnant woman due to receive the 2009 flu vaccine. Any with unwell symptoms will be suggested delaying receiving the vaccine.

So far, the hospital has not reported any severe complications from flu shots administered to 1,500 people since January 11.

Public Health Ministry's deputy permanentsecretary Dr Siriwat Thiptaradol said the ministry would go ahead providing the 2009 flu vaccine to people in the high risk group - and urged the public not to panic over reports of possible complications following the vaccination.

-- The Nation 2010-01-29

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[geriatrickid]

Another irresponsible senationalist article that presents rumour as fact.

There are two issues here;

1. Are vaccines safe?

2. Is the (A) H1N1 vaccine available in Thailand safe?

How many times does it have to be stated? Vaccines are safe, especially the flu vaccine. Why is there such fear in respect to the (A) H1N1 vaccine? It is for all intents and purposes no different, save for the strain, than the vaccine used last year, used a decade ago, and used 20 years ago. If people were going to drop dead, they would have done so long ago.

If the vaccine used in Thailand has been sourced from Australia, I am confident that it is safe. I have not seen the data for the local Thai manufacturer. However, aside from the inaccurate and misleading stories published by an unreliable source, there is no evidence to date to suggest that the Thai manufactured vaccine is not safe.

I don't know why ANY person would want to take the shot let alone a pregnant one.

That's a reflection of your peer group and nothing else.

Pregnant women and children are at risk. That's a fact.

The data released yesterday by Health Canada shows that the greatest "at risk" population segment in Canada were children aged 12-17. This confirms the initial WHO position that was based upon the data recorded in Mexico at the start of the pandemic.

[i agree 100%. My wife and I both refuse to get the vaccine for the fact we don't want to weaken our immune system. Today, people are doing things to their bodies that are not a natural cycle. Somethings such as polio, typhoid, measels, mumps, rubella, etc. are some things we get shots for when we are young and have no choice, really, but why? When is the last time you heard of these diseases? Plus, people are so heavily medicated that their bodies don't have a chance to fight sickness.

What? How does a vaccine weaken an immune system? Do you have some evidence that will change the course of immunology? Do you even understand how a vaccine works? It induces the body to provide an antibody response. In effect, the body develops a memory for the infectious agent and this allows the immune system to respond when needed. A vaccine assists the immune system. You haven't the slighest clue about this subject.

You have not heard of some infectious diseases because childhood vaccinations worked. You see the results of vaccines and now you think they are not needed. great thinking. You know who else has the same logic? People at risk for HIV. Their thinking is hey, the infections decreased, you can take a pill, no worries. Before the arrival of modern vaccines, summers in the developed world were filled with polio scares, outbreaks of deadly childhood diseases, that left scores of retarded, disabled kids and heartbroken parents. Today, there is a resurgence of the communicable diseases you dismiss, precisely because there are parts of the population that are not immunized. It is unthinkable that a parent would not vaccinate a child against polio, mumps, measles, rubella etc.

I wonder who is profiting from the yearly flu panic ??

There is no yearly flu panic.

But read on;

It seems that people love to buy into the conspiracy theories that abound. Well here's something to consider. Remember that fellow Andrew Wakefield that claimed there was a link between autism, bowel and brain damage in children and the MMR vaccine? Well, after the longest disciplinary inquiry in the UK General Medical Council's history which spanned years as studies and evidence were reviewed, Mr. Wakefield has been severely reprimanded and subject to penalty.

Keep in mind that the conspiracy theories over vaccines owe their origins to a paper authored by an unkown laboratory researcher, Dr Andrew Wakefield, with co-authorship from 12MDs. It was published in 1998 in the Lancet. The conclusions were based on the cases of 12 anonymous children with developmental disorders, who were admitted to a paediatric bowel unit at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, north London, between July 1996 and February 1997.

The end result? Ten of the study's 13 authors have renounced its conclusions. The Lancet said it should not have published the study and that Wakefield's links to litigation against the manufacturers of the MMR vaccine were a "fatal conflict of interest." In its ruling, the disciplinary panel concluded that Wakefield acted dishonestly and was misleading in the way he described the study. It said he should have disclosed that he was paid to advise lawyers acting for parents who believed their children had been harmed by the vaccine.The General Medical Council also said that he and two other authors of the paper performed unnecessary medical operations on children and took samples from them without ethical approval.

So when people ask who profits from vaccines, I suggest it is those that spread the lies and conspiracy theories that are the true profiteers. Litigation can be a lucrative business.

[Mario2008]

There is no proof that there was any connection between the flu shot and the miscarriage. Unfortunately some people have a miscarriage, whether they have had a flu shot or not.

That the Thai authorities are nevertheless investigating if there might be a connection is only proper and is reassuring, not reason for concern.

[webfact]

UPDATE

Health ministry: deaths unrelated to H1N1 vaccination of mothers

BANGKOK: -- Feb 2 (TNA) – Thailand Ministry of Public Health has initially concluded that recent fetal deaths are not linked to the anti A(H1N1) flu vaccinations of their mothers, earlier considered a possibility.

In the first case of a pregnant woman at Bangkok’s Vajira Hospital, the fetal death occurred five days after its mother received the vaccine, but the mother had earlier experienced miscarriages twice.

The third miscarriage is not involved the vaccination as the unborn baby had brain haemorrhage five days later. It did not happen immediately after the mother was injected.

Another case of miscarriage in Satun found that the unborn baby weighed only 1,000 grammes and the miscarriage is related to the mother’s record of smoking marijuana.

Dr Opas Karngawinphong, director of the Bureau of General Communicable Diseases, said medical workers continued giving A(H1N1) shots to high-risk groups.

Citing to a result of a Monday’s meeting of a subcommittee related to the Influenza Type A(H1N1), Dr Opas

added that the vaccines could still boost immunity against the virus as usual.

Currently, only one person is suffering from a side effect, having difficulty breathing after the inoculation.

If any persons are allergic to the vaccines, the medical staff must closely monitor condition and determine the

cause of allergies and whether it is related to the vaccine, Dr Opas ordered. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-02-2

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[Thai at Heart]

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Edited February 2, 2010 by Thai at Heart