WASHINGTON (AP) -- Independent health advisers will begin monitoring the safety of the swine flu vaccine Monday.
Specialists aren't expecting problems with the shot, because it's made the same way as the regular winter flu vaccine.
But the government is taking extra steps to track the health of millions of Americans, to spot any problems quickly and explain false alarms when common disorders coincide with inoculation.
The specially appointed group of experts will hold private meetings to raise the red flag if the government misses anything.
The group Monday will hear government and manufacturers' data from studies of the vaccine in more than 10,000 people.
A summary of the data says there's nothing to suggest any issues from the shot, but it cations that the studies aren't large enough to rule out any very rare risk.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
