Neurologists Should Report Reactions to Flu Vaccine

Request due to association of Guillain-Barre syndrome with previous pandemic flu vaccine

TUESDAY, Sept. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Neurologists should report any possible new cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome after immunization with the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine to health officials.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) note that the H1N1 vaccine is not expected to increase the risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome, but they are making the request due to the association of Guillain-Barre with the 1976 swine flu vaccine. The H1N1 vaccine is currently in production and will start to be administered to high-risk groups this fall.

Neurologists should report any adverse post-vaccination events to the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System at www.vaers.hhs.gov.

"The active participation of neurologists is going to be critical for monitoring for any possible increase in Guillain-Barre syndrome following 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccination," Orly Avitzur, M.D., a neurologist in private practice in Tarrytown, N.Y., who is leading the AAN effort, said in a prepared statement.

CDC - H1N1 Update
American Academy of Neurology
The Brain Matters - Public Web Site

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