Eyes wide open: better monitoring can stop adverse reactions to vaccines
25 May 2011 - Today the Gillard Government released an independent assessment of Australia’s management of vaccine adverse events. Commissioned by the Parliamentary Secretary for Health & Ageing, Catherine King, the review was conducted by former Chief Medical Officer, Professor John Horvath AO. The review followed public alarm over the withdrawal of seasonal flu vaccines for children in the 2010 flu season due to an unusually high incidence of fever with convulsions following vaccination in some children under five years of age. It recommended a more cohesive and coordinated national plan to deal quickly and effectively with health concerns about vaccines. Immunisation expert from The University of Sydney, Professor Robert Booy, responds to the Review of the management of adverse effects associated with Panvax and Fluvax.