WHO reemphasizes safety of A/H1N1 flu vaccine

GENEVA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO)on Thursday reemphasized the safety of A/H1N1 flu vaccine, saying a small number of deaths that occurred after vaccination were actually not caused by the vaccine itself.

A boy gets a free H1N1 flu vaccine at a kindergarden in Budapest November 19, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

"Although some investigations are still ongoing, results of completed investigations reported to the WHO have ruled out that the pandemic vaccine is the cause of death," said Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, director of the UN agency's vaccine research initiative.

At a telephone press conference, Kieny reiterated that the A/H1N1 pandemic vaccine had the same safety profile as seasonal flu vaccines.

"Vaccination campaigns continue worldwide. No new safety issue has been identified from reports we received to date ... reporting so far reconfirmed that the pandemic flu vaccine is as safe as seasonal flu vaccine," she said.

According to the official, at least 65 million doses of the pandemic vaccine have been administered in the 16 countries that have reported figures to WHO. Immunization campaigns are now underway in a total of 40 countries.

The rate of adverse events reported after A/H1N1 flu vaccine administration was similiar to that of seasonal flu vaccines, and only five out of 100 reports were for a serious event, Kieny said.