H1N1 shots halted after fetus deaths

Vaccination of pregnant women against A(H1N1) was ordered halted in Satun province after two fetuses died in the wombs of vaccinated women, provincial governor Sumeth Lertchaivanichkul said on Thursday.

Mr Sumeth said the order stopping the vaccination of pregnant women was sent to all hospitals in the province. The two deaths were being investigated.

New reports quoting villagers of Thungwa district spread on Wednesday that the foetuses of two women died two days after they were vaccinated at Thungwa Hospital.

Mr Sumeth said Satun public health chief Samruam Danprachankul had reported that his office received about 7,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine which was distributed to all hospitals in the province.

Thungwa Hospital received 400 doses, which it began administering to people in high-risk groups, including the two women - one eight-months pregnant and the other 27-weeks pregnant.

Two days later the two women felt something unusual and returned to Thungwa Hospital for a checkup. Doctors found that both fetuses had died. The exact cause of the deaths was not known.

The dead babies were sent to the hospital at Prince of Songkla University in Hat Yai for examination, the governor said.

Mr Sumeth said on receiving the report he ordered the suspension of the vaccination of pregnant women, pending the result of the examination.

He also verbally reported the details to interior permanent secretary Manit Wattanasen.

The vaccination of high-risk groups against A(H1N1) flu began early this month after the Public Health Ministry received two million doses of the vaccine, purchased overseas at a cost of 600 million baht.

The ministry wants people in five high-risk groups to be vaccinated first -- doctors, nurses, frontline healthcare workers, women more than three months pregnant, and people aged between six months and 64 years with chronic health problems.

Source: Bangkok Post.
Link: http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/166750/h1n1-vaccination-halted-after-deaths-of-foetuses.