In August 2010 concerns were raised in Finland and Sweden about a
possible association between narcolepsy and Pandemrix. In 2012 a
study from Finland found a 13-fold increased risk in children and
young people aged 4-19. But no other cases were reported from other countries so many believed the association only happened in Scandinavian
populations. The study results from England disproved this theory.To test the risk in England, researchers gathered 245 children and young people aged 4-18 from sleep centers and child neurology centers across England. Of these 245, 75 had narcolepsy. And many of them had gotten Pandermrix. They found that vaccination at any time was associated with a 14-fold increased risk of narcolepsy, and vaccination within six months before onset (the first appearance of the signs or symptoms of an illness) was associated with a 16-fold increased risk.
But like I stated before, the researchers say that further studies need to be done to access if the association actually exists.
NOS Themes:
- Role of skepticism: researchers insist further studying needs to be done to insure that the association is true.
- Role of motivation and curiosity: concerns came up in Finland, so scientists looked into it.
- Role of chance: several studies were done to make sure it didn't happen by chance.
Link to article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226194006.htm
Related Links:
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/narcolepsy
http://www.flu.gov/about_the_flu/h1n1/index.html
Wow, there seems a little scary. If the vaccination does cause a sleeping disorder, scientists better hurry and make one that doesn't!
ReplyDeleteThe good thing that comes out of this study is that scientists may be able to find out what is the cause of narcolepsy, a sleeping disorder. There is currently no known cause of narcolepsy and if this Swine flu vaccination is causing it, then something in the vaccination or something about how the vaccination works in our body may be the cause of narcolepsy.
Also, there are two more NOS themes. The Importance of Repeatability- it is important that the scientists can repeat the study over again to see if there is an actual association between the vaccination and a sleeping disorder. Science is Subject to Debate and Tentative- The scientists are hesitate to make the association between the vaccination and a sleeping disorder until further studies are done.
Link used: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/narcolepsy
I kind of am skeptical about the fact that this is true. It seems like the results they got don't really indicate that the vaccine causes narcolepsy, it just seems like those children who got the vaccine also happen to have narcolepsy. I think they should do the study again and have some people get the vaccine and some people not get the vaccine and see what happens. Additionally, I would like to know how they determined whether or not the child had narcolepsy because if it was just based on what the child thought, children don't really know what they feel in terms of being sleepy or not. Sometimes they want to stay up late and say they are not sleepy but they actually are.
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