Latex Allergy Warning:

The syringes supplied in the pandemic flu vaccine packs contain latex, and GPs have been advised to ask patients if they have latex allergy before being given the vaccine, says Victoria's Chief Health Officer, Dr John Carnie. An alternate latexfree syringe should be used in patients with the allergy, he says.

And... from the Australian Government Chief Medical Officer

A short term adverse reaction has occurred at the time of vaccination in a person with an allergy to latex. However, the true cause of this event has not been determined and is currently being investigated by the TGA through their normal process.

The pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza vaccine and vial is latex free. The Department of Health and Ageing has investigated the 1mL syringe in the vaccination packs and confirmed it contains latex.

In line with the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) guidelines for hospital management of patients with latex allergies, while the association is not proven a prudent approach is to use a syringe that you know to be latex free for those who have a latex allergy.

We will continue to investigate this issue and will keep you informed of progress.

Professor Jim Bishop AO
MD MMed MBBS FRACP FRCPA
Australian Government Chief Medical Officer