Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Vaccines provide shot in the arm against flu
Novel H1N1 influenza, or Swine flu, is on a lot of minds lately and it’s not surprising. The chance of it becoming a large public health problem is very real.
Because of this threat, our health officials have worked very closely with pharmaceutical manufacturers to quickly develop, test, and release a specific vaccine aimed at preventing the Swine flu. Does the word “quickly” make you nervous?
Like many things, be it toaster ovens, cars, or medications, the idea of quickly developing something conjures up the thought of cutting corners and not fully testing the final product.
Consumer advocates often caution us not to be the first one to purchase a new model -- you might be the one to discover the bugs the manufacturer failed to find.
In healthcare we have a similar rule of thumb, if possible, wait at least one year after a new medication is released so the medical community can learn more about how it works and what side effects will occur.
I recently had a similar conversation with a co-worker; we discussed how comfortable we were with the news that a new Swine flu vaccine will be available in just a few weeks after only spending a few months in testing and development. Should we be? My simple answer is yes, feel comfortable, because it is not truly a new vaccine.
The H1N1 vaccine is merely the same traditional seasonal flu vaccine made with a new strain of the flu virus. The same exact manufactures using the same manufacturing process that has been FDA-approved and proven safe for many years is being used.
Every year the manufacturers of the seasonal flu vaccine change the viral strains (usually a total of three strains) contained in the vaccine to match what health officials believe will be the major viruses causing illness in the coming fall.
This year, they simply used a different strain -- H1N1 -- in the same process (officially known this year as the A/California/7/09-like virus). Like all flu vaccines, the virus is actually killed by the process and the vaccine cannot give you the flu.
Since the new vaccine is the same as the old vaccine, the same warnings apply. You should not receive either flu vaccines if you have an allergy to eggs or egg products or a history of a life-threatening reaction to the vaccine in the past.
Common side effects of the vaccine include soreness at the injection site, and possibly a mild fever and fatigue, but again, you cannot catch the flu from the vaccine.
Should you get the vaccine? Not everybody needs the seasonal flu vaccine or the Swine flu vaccine. Ask your doctor and pay attention to the many public health announcements that will be released.
Do note that each vaccine is unique, and the seasonal vaccine will not protect you from Swine flu and the Swine flu vaccine will not protect you from seasonal flu. Current recommendations are for adults to receive a single dose for each for protection, children may need two doses.
Michael Smith is a pharmacist and Clinical Coordinator in the Department of Pharmacy Services at The William W. Backus Hospital. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, go to the Healthy Living blog at backushospital.org or E-mail Smith and all of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org.
Because of this threat, our health officials have worked very closely with pharmaceutical manufacturers to quickly develop, test, and release a specific vaccine aimed at preventing the Swine flu. Does the word “quickly” make you nervous?
Like many things, be it toaster ovens, cars, or medications, the idea of quickly developing something conjures up the thought of cutting corners and not fully testing the final product.
Consumer advocates often caution us not to be the first one to purchase a new model -- you might be the one to discover the bugs the manufacturer failed to find.
In healthcare we have a similar rule of thumb, if possible, wait at least one year after a new medication is released so the medical community can learn more about how it works and what side effects will occur.
I recently had a similar conversation with a co-worker; we discussed how comfortable we were with the news that a new Swine flu vaccine will be available in just a few weeks after only spending a few months in testing and development. Should we be? My simple answer is yes, feel comfortable, because it is not truly a new vaccine.
The H1N1 vaccine is merely the same traditional seasonal flu vaccine made with a new strain of the flu virus. The same exact manufactures using the same manufacturing process that has been FDA-approved and proven safe for many years is being used.
Every year the manufacturers of the seasonal flu vaccine change the viral strains (usually a total of three strains) contained in the vaccine to match what health officials believe will be the major viruses causing illness in the coming fall.
This year, they simply used a different strain -- H1N1 -- in the same process (officially known this year as the A/California/7/09-like virus). Like all flu vaccines, the virus is actually killed by the process and the vaccine cannot give you the flu.
Since the new vaccine is the same as the old vaccine, the same warnings apply. You should not receive either flu vaccines if you have an allergy to eggs or egg products or a history of a life-threatening reaction to the vaccine in the past.
Common side effects of the vaccine include soreness at the injection site, and possibly a mild fever and fatigue, but again, you cannot catch the flu from the vaccine.
Should you get the vaccine? Not everybody needs the seasonal flu vaccine or the Swine flu vaccine. Ask your doctor and pay attention to the many public health announcements that will be released.
Do note that each vaccine is unique, and the seasonal vaccine will not protect you from Swine flu and the Swine flu vaccine will not protect you from seasonal flu. Current recommendations are for adults to receive a single dose for each for protection, children may need two doses.
Michael Smith is a pharmacist and Clinical Coordinator in the Department of Pharmacy Services at The William W. Backus Hospital. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, go to the Healthy Living blog at backushospital.org or E-mail Smith and all of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org.
# posted by ----------------- @ 9:57 AM 
