New ‘overload’ fears as swine flu jab is added to routine childhood vaccines

New ‘overload’ fears as swine flu jab is added to routine childhood vaccines


By Beezy Marsh
Last updated at 10:57 AM on 18th October 2009
Comments (72) Add to My Stories Jab: The Government has said that all vaccinations can be given with the swine flu vaccine
The swine flu vaccine will be given to children at the same time as routine jabs – despite the fact there is no evidence the combination is safe.
There are fears that children will be at risk of unknown side effects because safety trials into using the jabs together have yet to be carried out.
The plan has also added to concerns about ‘overloading’ young immune systems with multiple inoculations.
Government experts have ruled that all vaccinations – including those against measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis C, diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, Hib
disease and pneumococcal infection – can be given with the swine flu vaccine to
children over six months old.
The Government’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) decided that because the swine flu vaccine does not contain a ‘live’ virus, it can safely be given with other jabs.
The first wave of a national vaccination scheme against swine flu is set to begin next week, with children who have underlying health problems such as asthma and diabetes among the first to be treated.
The JCVI ruling means these ‘high-risk’ youngsters who are also due for routine jabs could now receive them along with their swine flu vaccine.
Campaigners have already voiced concerns that the recommended programme of more than 20 inoculations, including two doses of the MMR injection, by the age of four puts too much strain on children’s immune systems.
GP Dr Richard Halvorsen, medical director of the Babyjabs clinic in Central London, said last night: ‘There is not a shred of evidence about the potential effects of combining all these childhood jabs with the swine flu vaccine. They simply have not had time to carry out tests.’
The swine flu vaccine has been fast-tracked through normal licensing procedures and the first volunteer children in a UK study received their shots last week.