Respected medical journal, The Lancet, formally retracted a 1998 paper by British doctor Andrew Wakefield (pictured) Tuesday which controversially linked autism with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
As countries across Europe start selling off surplus supplies of the new flu vaccination, HEALTH looks at why governments were left with excess jabs. The production of the flu vaccine has changed little in over 50 years.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy gave a glitzy New Year's address, but with his popularity ratings at an all-time low, his message was defensive. Meanwhile, the French government prepares to sell off a huge surplus of swine flu vaccines, and legendary writer Albert Camus stirs controversy 50 years after his death.
The French government announced yesterday that it would cancel the purchase of 50 million unused swine flu vaccines, a few days after deciding to sell part of the surplus to other countries. Has the vaccination campaign been overreacting?
Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot believes France will be able to avoid paying for the flu vaccine orders it cancelled. France has cancelled some 50 of the 94 million doses it ordered.
94 million doses of vaccine for a population of 60 million: France was certainly well prepared for the flu pandemic. But now, most of those stock won't be used. France and other European country now have a large surplus to deal with.
Politicians and scientists decry government waste as France seeks buyers for its surplus swine flu vaccines. The Socialist Party and the New Centre, part of the ruling coalition, are calling for a parliamentary investigation.
With vaccination centres across France facing endless queues filled with anxious patients, student medical interns and army doctors have been called in to help. They government has also announced that the centres will now be open seven days a week.
After spending weeks debating on whether people should get the vaccine, France is now involved in a fierce discussion over who should be doing the jab.
