Patient dies after being given swine flu vaccine

By Jo Macfarlane
Last updated at 11:15 PM on 21st November 2009

One person has died after being given the Government’s new swine flu vaccination.

It is the first death to be linked to the new Pandemrix jab and comes on top of a further 1,329 reports of suspected adverse reactions in just four weeks.

But experts investigating the death say it was likely to have been caused by the patient’s ‘significant underlying health conditions’ rather than the vaccine itself.

Flu vaccine: There have been 1,329 reports of suspected adverse reactions to Pandemrix in four weeks

The most frequent reactions to Pandemrix are pain and swelling at the injection site, vomiting, dizziness and fever.

There have been two cases of anaphylactic shock, one child experienced arthritis and two had seizures, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said. A link to the jab has not been established.

A Department of Health spokesman said: ‘There are no concerns about these reports.’