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Name: Stacy
[ Original Post ]
Flu Drug Tamiflu May Cause Odd Behavior in Children
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Meanwhile,
CDC calls flu vaccine plentiful, despite some delays in shipments
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter


MONDAY, Nov. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Responding to reports from overseas, U.S. heath officials are urging doctors and parents to watch for signs of bizarre behavior in children taking the flu drug Tamiflu.
Officials at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration don't know if the more than 100 new cases of strange behavior, including three deaths from falls, are tied to the drug, to the flu itself, or a combination of both, the Associated Press reported.
The FDA is mulling changes to the Tamiflu label that may recommend that all patients, especially children, be closely monitored while on the drug.
The agency acknowledged that stopping Tamiflu treatment might harm flu patients if the virus is the underlying cause of delirium, hallucinations and other abnormal behavior that make up the symptoms observed in children abroad. Many of the pediatric problems have been reported in Japan, where the number of Tamiflu prescriptions is about 10 times greater than in the United States, the AP said.
Although severe cases of flu have been known to produce such side effects, the number and type of cases, plus comments from doctors who believe the abnormal behavior is associated with the drug, are keeping the FDA from ruling out Tamiflu as the cause.
The FDA's pediatric advisory committee is to discuss the label recommendation on Thursday, the AP said. The FDA typically follows the advice of its advisory panels.
Also on Monday, the U.S. Centers for Control and Prevention said that, despite delays in the distribution of seasonal flu vaccine this year, the agency is confident that enough doses of vaccine will be available over the next few weeks to meet any demand.
In October, the CDC said that while there was no shortage of vaccine this year, there were going to be delays in getting all the doses manufactured and distributed. The problem particularly affects children's doses.
Since these are delays, not shortages, CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding said she's encouraging people to get vaccinated even as late as early January.
"It's the beginning of the flu season," Gerberding said during a teleconference. "As always, flu is unpredictable, so we are not going to be able to say how fast it's going to evolve, where it will hit next, or how bad it will be."
Cases of flu have already been reported in Arizona and California. Usually, the flu season peaks in late January or February.
Gerberding noted that this year's supply of vaccine is the largest ever produced in the United States. "We are still projecting between 110 million and 115 million doses," she said. So far, about 77 million doses have been distributed.
In all, 210 million Americans are eligible for flu shots, Gerberding said, including children between 6 months and 5 years of age.
The CDC is participating in a national influenza vaccine drive to encourage people to get vaccinated whenever vaccine is available. "It is never too late to get your flu shot," Gerberding said. Moreover, getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself from the flu, she added.
At the teleconference, Dr. John Agwunobi, assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said people could get vaccinated as late as early January.
Dr. L.J. Tan, a spokesman for the American Medical Association, said, "We know that there are substantial medical benefits to receiving the vaccine after Thanksgiving and beyond. It is often mistakenly believed that the only time to get the vaccine is before Thanksgiving."
"Children can have very serious disease from influenza," Gerberding said. "The flu shot is the best way to protect them, there's no doubt about. Each year in the United States, as much as 20 percent of the population can get the flu, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and about 36,000 people die from the disease, according to the CDC.
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Name: amy | Date: Nov 14th, 2006 4:46 PM
isnt tamiflu for that bird flu thing or is it for all flus how old do you have to be to get the flu shot over in england 

Name: Stacy | Date: Nov 15th, 2006 4:03 PM
Amy,
Tamiflu is an antiviral, used for cases of the Flu. As for how old you need to be before you can receive the Flu shot in England, I don't know. The Center for Disease Control recomends EVERY child over 6 months of age get a Flu shot..

Maybe some of our other ladies for England can help. If not there's always your Dr. office for information. 

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