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Few suffer serious side effects from H1N1 flu vaccine in Canada

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-18 11:11

OTTAWA: Very few Canadians are suffering from serious side effects after being vaccinated against the A/H1N1 flu and the frequency of serious reactions from the vaccine in Canada has been about the same as with other vaccines, health officials said Tuesday.

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About 6.6 million people have been vaccinated so far and there have been only 36 serious adverse reactions, Dr. David Butler-Jones, the country's chief public health officer, said at a press conference in Ottawa.

One person is believed to have died from a serious reaction to the vaccine, but the death has not been conclusively linked to the flu shot, he said.

The serious side effects which have the potential to cause disability or death have included allergic reactions, fevers and convulsions. Milder side effects, such as nausea, soreness, headaches and fever, have also been seen, he said.

About 20 percent of Canada's 33 million citizens have received the H1N1 shot and health authorities expect to vaccinate all people who want to by December.