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21 Deaths in Japan After H1N1 Vaccine
The frequency of cases of severe side effects detected in the
administration of H1N1 vaccines in Japan has been higher than
for seasonal flu vaccines said the Japanese Health Ministry.
68 cases of serious side effects were recorded according to a
health ministry survey. Eight more deaths were reported outside
the survey, bringing the death toll after vaccination to 21.
Although the victims died following vaccination, the committee
argued that the vaccines were not necessarily the cause of death.
The experts found that in most cases, it was highly likely that
they died because the condition of their diseases worsened, they
said.
An estimated 9.02 million people in Japan contracted influenza
between early July and Nov. 15, the National Institute of Infectious
Diseases said Friday. Most are believed to have been infected
with the H1N1 virus.
An estimated 1.64 million flu sufferers visited hospitals across
the country during the week through Nov. 15, up 110,000 from the
previous week.
The number of flu patients reported in the week by roughly 5,000
designated medical institutions nationwide rose from 157,626 to
169,095, the institute said.
The institute's report for the previous week, released Nov. 13,
showed a decline in the number of flu cases, apparently because
most of the medical institutions were closed Nov. 3, a national
holiday.
Of the nation's 47 prefectures, Aichi topped the latest list
with 58.70 people per medical institution, followed by Oita with
53.64 and Ishikawa with 49.77.
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said that one in 14 people
in Japan are estimated to have visited a hospital due to swine
flu between late July and mid-November.
Of the estimated 9.02 million who have contracted influenza,
65, or one in every 140,000 cases, has died, the ministry said.
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A full list of h1n1 vaccine ingredients, alerts and warnings.
Reference
Sources: japantimes.co.jp
November 22, 2009
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