The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) clarified numerous untrue reports concerning Taiwan CDC’s handling of an adverse event in a female high school student, Miss Feng, in Taichung following pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccination.

Taiwan CDC indicated that the agency received Mrs. Feng’s report regarding Miss Feng’s vaccine adverse event following H1N1 vaccination through the Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922. Miss Feng experienced dizziness, nausea and hemiplegia after receiving H1N1 vaccination at school on November 24, 2009.She was rushed to the emergency department because her symptoms persisted.At 4:20 pm on the same day, a physician specialized in pediatric preventive medicine from Taiwan CDC was sent to visit Miss Feng at the hospital and discuss the case with the attending physician. The initial neurological examination showed no abnormality.Mrs. Feng was simultaneously informed about the finding of the initial examination. In the evening of the same day, Taiwan CDC called an expert teleconference.The meeting was attended by experts, including Professor Ping-Ing Lee of National Taiwan University Hospital, Neurology Professor Li-Min Huang, Professor Ruey-Meei Wu, Division Chief Nan-Chang Chiu of Mackay Memorial Hospital, and Superintendent Yan-Tsou Lin of Chang Gung Children's Hospital and others. The experts initially excluded the association between the case’s symptoms and the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccine.

The case had several examinations at the hospital, including MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), MRA (magnetic resonance angiography), CT (computed axial tomography) scan and EMG (electromyography).The results of the examinations were all normal.The case has recovered from her symptoms.The physician from Taiwan CDC visited the case again on November 30, 2009 to determine her conditions and courage her cooperation in the treatment.In the evening of December 4, the case was discharged from the hospital.

During Miss Feng’s illness, Mrs. Feng sought assistance through calling 1922 several times and Taiwan CDC also contacted Mrs. Feng numerous times to understand Miss Feng’s conditions and explain the vaccine injury compensation program to Mrs. Feng.Local health authorities also assisted Miss Feng in applying for vaccine injury compensation.The Fengs filed for vaccine injury compensation on November 30, 2009.The Vaccine Injury Compensation Committee is currently examining the application and determining the association between the case’s symptoms and the vaccine.

Taiwan CDC refuted the “passing the buck” claims made by the media.