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Health officials note increase in febrile seizures after flu vaccine
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Officials with the FDA and the CDC noted an increase in reports of febrile seizures among young children who received the trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine made by Sanofi Pasteur, Fluzone.
Fluzone is the only vaccine approved for use this influenza season among infants and children aged 6 to 23 months of age, according to a statement issued by the FDA. Both health agencies are working together to investigate whether the reports are related to the vaccine or other factors.
“The FDA and CDC have seen no increase in VAERS reports of febrile seizures in people older than 2 years of age following vaccination with TIV, and no increase after live attenuated influenza vaccine (FluMist, MedImmune),” FDA officials said in their statement. “In the cases reported, all children recovered and no lasting effects have been seen.”
The reports were submitted to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which is a surveillance system for vaccine adverse events that is routinely monitored by the FDA and the CDC.
The FDA officials emphasized in their statement that the recommendation for vaccinating children against influenza remains unchanged.
Earlier this year, the CDC recommended against routine use of Afluria (CSL Biotherapeutics) for children aged 6 months to 8 years. This was due to increased reports of post-vaccination fever and febrile seizure occurrence in children aged 6 months to 8 years who received an antigenically equivalent product during the influenza season in Australia and New Zealand. Rates of fever and febrile seizures occurred in these children at a rate ninefold greater than expected after receipt of an antigenically similar vaccine used in these countries.
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