UK: 23 people die and 123 are hospitalised after being given flu vaccine

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23 people die and 123 are hospitalised after being given flu vaccine

By Mail On Sunday Reporter

Last updated at 11:57 PM on 14th June 2008

Twenty-three people have died in the past five years after a routine flu jab

Official figures show that a further 123 people given the winter vaccine

suffered a suspected reaction so severe they were taken to hospital.

Causes of death included heart attacks, blood infections and pneumonia,

while asthma and kidney failure were among reported side-effects.

The statistics, revealed by Health Minister Dawn Primarolo, raise fears over

the safety of the vaccine, which is taken by eight million people in Britain

every year.

Government policy is to offer the jabs to everyone over 65 and those with

existing conditions that could be worsened by flu.

Experts say the deaths could be coincidental and no direct link to the

injection has been established.

But there are now calls for further research to identify whether some people

could be put in danger by having the jab.

Ms Primarolo insisted the flu vaccine was safe and added: ‘The balance of

benefits to risks remains overwhelmingly positive.’