UK government says swine flu vaccine causes narcolepsy

[natasa778]

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/19/swine-flu-vaccine-narcolepsy-uk

..
The condition is a rare but serious neurological disorder that affects about 31,000 people in Britain. The condition can cause massive sleep disruption. The worst hit are often young people who face enormous learning difficulties at school and university. The disorder can destroy self-esteem, and bullying is common. Adults can lose their jobs, their driving licences, and can have difficulties with relationships. Some narcoleptics have another condition called cataplexy, a total loss of muscle control.
The government U-turn follows a major study of four- to 18-year-olds by the Health Protection Agency which found that around one in every 55,000 jabs was associated with narcolepsy...

...Narcolepsy is a complex disease and its causes are not yet fully understood but it is generally considered to be associated with genetic and environmental factors, including infections.

What a relief to know that:

the drug company had an indemnity clause in its contract to provide the vaccine which means government will ultimately foot the bill.

 

[natasa778]

And now some silly, silly researchers are making nonsensical claims that autoimmune mechanisms could be at play in narcolepsy, and that these are triggered by immune reactions to infections and vaccines. A disabling neurological disorder triggered by immune reactions? What next, will someone come out and claim that the Earth might not be flat after all

 

[Hip]

And now some silly, silly researchers are making nonsensical claims that autoimmune mechanisms could be at play in narcolepsy, and that these are triggered by immune reactions to infections and vaccines.

The idea that autoimmune mechanisms could be at play in narcolepsy, and the idea that autoimmunity can be triggered by infections, are both legitimate.

New researchᐞ indicates that narcolepsy could be an autoimmune condition.

And a good example of autoimmunity triggered by infection is obsessive-compulsive disorder, which in about 25% of cases is triggered by a Streptococcus infection of the throat. It is believed that an antibody against Streptococcus bacteria acts on a brain enzyme in an autoimmune fashion, disrupting brain chemistry, and causing OCD.

 

[Sea]

The idea that autoimmune mechanisms could be at play in narcolepsy, and the idea that autoimmunity can be triggered by infections, are both legitimate.

I think maybe you missed the sarcasm?

 

[Hip]

I think maybe you missed the sarcasm?

Whoops, I think you are right, I did miss it.

Oddly enough, on days when my brain fog is pretty bad (like today), my ability to register sarcasm and irony can get quite impeded. It's embarrassing.

 

[Sea]

No need to be embarrassed here. I think we're all familiar with the way our brains let us down