Flu shot went horribly wrong

AAP
Feb. 13, 2007

A flu vaccination went horribly wrong for a public servant who developed a potentially fatal condition, a Senate estimates committee heard today.

A woman developed the nerve disease Guillain-Barre syndrome after receiving a flu shot in 2005 through the federal department of parliamentary services.

Three other people also fell ill but their cases have not been conclusively linked to the Parliament House vaccination program.

Department of parliamentary services head Hilary Penfold said the woman was still dealing with compensation claims for her treatment.

But she said she was aware of no other cases of potentially adverse reactions to the vaccination, which is offered to all Parliament House workers each winter.

Ms Penfold said she had asked the two parliamentary clerks and the finance department if staff were complaining about any building-related ill-health.

"And all three of them replied to me that they were aware of nothing that suggested that there were any challenges to health that were peculiar to this building," she said.

But Labor senator John Faulkner said it was a highly concerning case.

"I happen to believe that we've got a duty of care in relation to these employees," Senator Faulkner said.

"This is a very serious matter that has occurred in relation to this vaccination, that's just gone horribly wrong for up to at least four individuals and possibly more."