Schoolgirl dies after cancer vaccine
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A 14-year-old girl has died after being given a cervical cancer jab as part of a national immunisation programme, but the exact cause of death is unknown.
The pupil took ill at Blue Coat CofE School in Coventry shortly after she received the Cervarix vaccine. She died in the town's University Hospital.
The batch of the vaccine used has been quarantined by the local NHS.
The injection offers protection against a sexually transmitted disease, which is linked to most cervical cancers.
A routine programme of vaccinating 12- and 13-year-old girls started in September 2008 across the UK using the Cervarix vaccine made by GlaxoSmithKline. A catch-up campaign is now underway for older girls.
The injection offers protection against the human papilloma virus (HPV), the most common cause of cervical cancer.
'Urgent investigation'
The girl, who has not yet been named, died at lunchtime on Monday.
Dr Caron Grainger, joint director of public health for NHS Coventry and Coventry City Council, said their sympathies are with the girl's family and friends.
"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.
"We are conducting an urgent and full investigation into the events surrounding this tragedy."
A small number of girls at the school had also reported mild symptoms such as dizziness and nausea but they were not admitted to hospital.
'Tragic death'
It is thought around a million girls have already safely received the vaccine.
When the national immunisation project was announced, there was some controversy about the selection of Cervarix over Gardasil, which is used by the majority of vaccination programmes worldwide.
Dr Pim Kon, medical director at GlaxoSmithKline UK, which makes Cervarix, said: "Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of the young girl.
"We are working with the Department of Health and MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) to better understand this case, as at this stage the exact cause of this tragic death is unknown."
The global pharmaceutical company added that the vast majority of suspected adverse reactions have related either to the symptoms of recognised side effects or were due to the injection process and not the vaccine itself.
The pupil took ill at Blue Coat CofE School in Coventry shortly after she received the Cervarix vaccine. She died in the town's University Hospital.
The batch of the vaccine used has been quarantined by the local NHS.
The injection offers protection against a sexually transmitted disease, which is linked to most cervical cancers.
A routine programme of vaccinating 12- and 13-year-old girls started in September 2008 across the UK using the Cervarix vaccine made by GlaxoSmithKline. A catch-up campaign is now underway for older girls.
The injection offers protection against the human papilloma virus (HPV), the most common cause of cervical cancer.
'Urgent investigation'
The girl, who has not yet been named, died at lunchtime on Monday.
Dr Caron Grainger, joint director of public health for NHS Coventry and Coventry City Council, said their sympathies are with the girl's family and friends.
"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.
"We are conducting an urgent and full investigation into the events surrounding this tragedy."
A small number of girls at the school had also reported mild symptoms such as dizziness and nausea but they were not admitted to hospital.
'Tragic death'
It is thought around a million girls have already safely received the vaccine.
When the national immunisation project was announced, there was some controversy about the selection of Cervarix over Gardasil, which is used by the majority of vaccination programmes worldwide.
Dr Pim Kon, medical director at GlaxoSmithKline UK, which makes Cervarix, said: "Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of the young girl.
"We are working with the Department of Health and MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) to better understand this case, as at this stage the exact cause of this tragic death is unknown."
The global pharmaceutical company added that the vast majority of suspected adverse reactions have related either to the symptoms of recognised side effects or were due to the injection process and not the vaccine itself.
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Ihatethemall
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Line up for those swine flu shots people. Theres no need to fear. Just line up, roll up the sleeves and let good ole Uncle Sam slip a little special juice into your arms. It won't hurt you.
- 2 years ago
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Ihatethemall
