Cervarix one dead, several classmates ill !!

Schoolgirl dies after being given cervical cancer jab

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SSRI-Crusaders/message/34568

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6852858.ece

A 14-year-old schoolgirl has died shortly after being given a vaccine against the virus that can cause cervical cancer as part of a national immunisation programme.

Serious side-effects are understood to have affected several classmates at a school in Coventry, The Times has learnt, which in at least one case have been fatal.

The schoolgirl is understood to have died in the last few hours, after being an injection of given Cervarix, which guards against the human papilloma virus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection that causes up to 70 per cent of cervical cancer cases. It is believed to be the first death linked to the jab since a nationwide vaccination programme began in September.

In an official statement, Dr Caron Grainger, Joint Director of Public Health for NHS Coventry and the city's council, said: "A 14-year-old girl took ill at a school in Coventry and was taken to University Hospital in the city where she later sadly died. Our sympathies are with the girl's family and friends at this difficult time.

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"The incident happened shortly after the girl had received her HPV vaccine in the school. No link can be made between the death and the vaccine until all the facts are known and a post-mortem takes place. NHS Coventry has taken the proactive step to quarantine the batch of vaccine being used as a precautionary measure only, and has informed the regulatory authority. We are conducting an urgent and full investigation into the event surrounding this tragedy."

The health authority added: "Separately it has been brought to our attention that a small number of girls at the school had reported mild symptoms, such as dizziness and nausea. They have not been admitted to hospital."

The Health Protection Agency said it had been made aware of the situation but referred The Times to the Department of Health , which is understood to be preparing an official response.

The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MRHA) also said it had received enquiries about the safety of the Cervarix vaccine, which has been given to all schoolgirls aged 12 and over since September as part of a national campaign. By 2011 all girls under 18 will have been offered the vaccine.

Britain is the only country in the world to have selected Cervarix, made by GlaxoSmithKline, for a widespread vaccination programme, instead of Gardasil, a rival vaccine made by Merck.

Previously the jab has been associated with side-effects including nausea and dizziness, but not directly linked to any serious cases and by March the MHRA had received more than 1,500 reports of reactions to its use. But the Agency and the Department of Health said that was among more than 700,000 doses given to girls and that the vaccine was safe and had not been associated with severe side-effects.

GlaxoSmithKline was unable to comment on the latest case.

In a statement issued earlier this year, the Department of Health said: "The HPV vaccination programme prevents cervical cancer and will save the lives of up to an estimated 400 women each year. Both HPV vaccines have met the rigorous safety and efficacy standards required for licensing in Europe and elsewhere. It is irresponsible to raise fears over vaccine safety in the absence of scientific evidence that points to safety concerns.''