WHO probes study seasonal shot may raise H1N1 risk

[Celebration]

http://www.reuters.com/article/africaCrisis/idUSWEA2303

GENEVA, Sept 24 (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation said on Thursday it was looking into an unpublished Canadian study indicating that a seasonal flu shot could increase the risk of catching the H1N1 virus.

Marie-Paule Kieny, director of the WHO's initiative for vaccine research, said no other researchers had presented similar findings and it could be a "study bias", although the Canadian investigators were well known and capable.

"The reason why this may be different in Canada and in this particular study than in other places of the world is not yet identified. It may be a study bias, it may be that something is real," Kieny told a teleconference from the WHO headquarters.

[bluestateguy]

1. The anti-vaxers are going to love this

nt

[still_one]

2. I suspect you are right, but as far as I am concerned I will get the flu vaccine

and the H1N1 vaccine if it becomes available

[emilyg]

3. Now they tell us. I got

flu shot last week.

[Why Syzygy]

4. More

(...) A scientific paper has been submitted to a journal and the lead authors - Dr. Danuta Skowronski of the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control and Dr. Gaston De Serres of Laval University - are constrained about what they can say about the work. Journals bar would-be authors from discussing their results before they are published.

Skowronski, who at first declined to speak after news of the findings hit the media Wednesday, said it's important that the work gets the expert scrutiny the journal peer-review system provides.

"Good scientists know that methods can influence results," she said from Vancouver.

"For me, it's very important that we respect the peer-review process as good scientists. Because the implications ... are important. And if there are methodologic flaws, we need to be assured that every stone was turned over to make sure what we're reporting is valid."

The findings are already having implications, with public health officials across the country grappling with whether to delay, reduce or scrap altogether seasonal flu shot programs this year.

Officials from Saskatchewan said Thursday they are leaning towards suspending seasonal flu shot efforts for this fall. But Dr. Joel Kettner, chief medical officer of health for Manitoba, said his province is moving ahead with planning for a rollout soon, though the planning makes room for the possibility they may need to stop the program "on a dime." (...)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5g-jBo3N9xWt8pxrXRQvzljFetL0g