Children under five should not be given a flu vaccine suspected of triggering fever-related convulsions in Australian youngsters, health authorities have warned.
Western Australian health authorities suspended a free programme for seasonal vaccine Fluvax following reports that 22 children had been hospitalised with high fevers and convulsions after getting the jab.
New Zealand's Ministry of Health yesterday advised doctors here not to use it, recommending Vaxigrip as an alternative.
Dr Pat Tuohy, chief medical advisor for child and youth health, stressed that catching a fever was a common reaction to a flu vaccine and "part of the immune response".
"About 3 to 4 per cent of children will have a short convulsion if they get a high fever, no matter what the cause," he said. "Febrile [fever-related] convulsions are frightening for parents ... but they do not cause long-term harm."
Authorities in Australia are yet to work out if the problems were caused by a particular batch of the vaccine, or were part of a wider issue.
WHAT TO DO
If your child has a febrile (fever-related) convulsion:
* Keep calm, they are a common childhood problem
* Do not put child in bath, or anything in their mouth
* If convulsion lasts more than five minutes or breathing is laboured, dial 111
* Get child checked by doctor afterwards to determine cause of fever
Fluvax warning for young children
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