Two years ago officers of the MHRA were defensive of their inability to detect the narcolepsy risk with the Pandemrix vaccine in the swine flu scare of 2009 nine years before [1], despite heavy criticism [2-5]. In 2020 they face a much more daunting task of assessing for licensure and monitoring a plethora COVID-19 vaccines, each of apparently novel design. I hope they are now able to give the public assurances that important lessons have been learned, and not just that they always get it right.
[2] Peter Doshi, 'Pandemrix vaccine: why was the public not told of early warning signs?',
BMJ 2018; 362 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k3948 (Published 20 September 2018)
Competing interests:
AgeofAutism.com, an on-line daily journal, concerns itself with the potential environmental sources for the proliferation of autism, neurological impairment, immune dysfunction and chronic disease. I receive no payment as UK Editor
Rapid Response:
Re: A tale of two vaccines
Dear Editor
Two years ago officers of the MHRA were defensive of their inability to detect the narcolepsy risk with the Pandemrix vaccine in the swine flu scare of 2009 nine years before [1], despite heavy criticism [2-5]. In 2020 they face a much more daunting task of assessing for licensure and monitoring a plethora COVID-19 vaccines, each of apparently novel design. I hope they are now able to give the public assurances that important lessons have been learned, and not just that they always get it right.
[1] Philip Bryan, June Raine, Ian Hudson, 'MHRA response to BMJ Editor’s Choice – ‘A tale of two vaccines’', 10 October 2018, https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k4152/rr-11
[2] Peter Doshi, 'Pandemrix vaccine: why was the public not told of early warning signs?',
BMJ 2018; 362 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k3948 (Published 20 September 2018)
[3] Responses to Peter Doshi, 'Pandemrix vaccine: why was the public not told of early warning signs?', https://www.bmj.com/content/362/bmj.k3948/rapid-responses
[4] Fiona Godlee, 'A tale of two vaccines', BMJ 2018; 363 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k4152 (Published 04 October 2018)
[5] Responses to Fiona Godlee, 'A Tale of Two Vaccines, https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k4152/rapid-responses
Competing interests: AgeofAutism.com, an on-line daily journal, concerns itself with the potential environmental sources for the proliferation of autism, neurological impairment, immune dysfunction and chronic disease. I receive no payment as UK Editor