Flu Shot This Year?

[GuingesRock]

Just in from Medical Officer of Health: Influenza Update:

· Lab-confirmed influenza arrived in Nova Scotia mid December. This means we expect to see the numbers of cases continue to rise over approximately the next 2-3 weeks, before beginning to decline.

· Earlier this week Nova Scotia had two laboratory confirmed influenza deaths due to the H1N1 strain.

· Both cases had underlying risk factors for H1N1 influenza.

· On average there are 2-7 deaths from influenza each year in Nova Scotia.

· H1N1 is the dominant strain this season.

· Recent studies from British Columbia have shown that children under 5 years old and young and middle aged adults (20 – 64 years old) have the least immunity to H1N1 and therefore at the greatest risk of infection. In addition, those in all age groups with underlying chronic conditions are at greatest risk of severe infection and complications from influenza.



Influenza Vaccine Update:

· This year’s influenza vaccine covers the H1N1 strain.

· With increased media attention, the recent deaths and vaccination efforts in other provinces public demand for the vaccine will likely increase.

· Nova Scotia has already distributed 435, 000 doses of vaccine. Another 9,600 doses will arrive in the province next week. With increased access to vaccine through pharmacies in addition to other providers, we have had our greatest uptake by the population yet, thus have our most protected population.

[akr71]

A few years back when we had the 'big' H1N1 scare there was a push to give folks 2 vaccines - the H1N1 & the 'regular' flu shot. I got both - does this mean that I'm already protected against H1N1 this year? I understand that the vaccine is not a gaurentee, just boosting my immune system.

I've already received this year's shot. Just curious...

[Juniper Hill]

This year's shot is supposed to cover H1N1, so you should be in good shape.

[GuingesRock]

Immunity from the vaccine doesn't last that long, IIRC maybe 6 months, protection gradually starts wearing off after a few months. Therefor I don't think the H1N1 vaccine you got in 2009 would still be any good to you.

[bluenose]

you REALLY want to know what's in the flue shots?

ok here goes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soylent_Green

[akr71]

Thanks Neil & Mark. What is different about influenza vaccine that it only last in my system for 6 months? I don't get a MMR vaccine every year?

(If I'm just opening up the whole can of worms again, feel free to ignore)

[AllanMar]

I was under the impression the flu vaccine changes every year to adapt to the mutating flu virus. They have to attempt to predict the mutations (computer models), which is why some years it's less effective then others. That's also one of the reasons why your supposed to get it every year.

Although I may be mistaken.

[GuingesRock]

Thanks Neil & Mark. What is different about influenza vaccine that it only last in my system for 6 months? I don't get a MMR vaccine every year?

(If I'm just opening up the whole can of worms again, feel free to ignore)

Andy, Some vaccines provide lifelong immunity with one injection, and others require booster vaccinations. As far as I know, it isn’t really known for sure why that is, it’s just the nature of the beast*. Also as mentioned, the flu vaccine changes every year as different strains appear. Otherwise, I assume, a flu shot with a series of booster shots might provide longer term coverage, but that wouldn’t be worthwhile because the flu viruses keep changing.

*I looked into this a bit. There are theory's on this that don't seem that plausible, but if anyone knows the answer for sure please post.

[Juniper Hill]

Caught the end of an interview with virologist Todd Hatchette on Maritime CBC this afternoon. Talked all about flu and the vaccine. Will try to find the link.

http://www.cbc.ca/maritimeconnection/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[GuingesRock]

Had a flu shot reaction in my office this morning. It’s all because I started this thread I’m sure. This is only the second reaction in my career. It was a young child. I had to give an epinephrine injection then all was ok. Off to the hospital for 4 hours observation by ambulance. Not a good experience at all, for anyone. My four year old had his flu shot last week. I think I might recommend having your flu shot given by a doctor. At least then you know that if there is a problem, there is someone who has experience recognising and managing anaphylaxis, and not just a theoretical understanding. I have more frightening memories of patients with full blown H1N1. I was stuck with a whole lot of forms to fill out at the end of the day. It’s against the law not to report adverse reactions.

I experienced the X factor today for the second time. Not a pleasant experience. I’m glad my little boy had the flu shot, and I’ll get him immunized again if there is another nasty flu going around.

[GAM]

All this and a trip to New Minas Canadian Tire.

Really makes me appreciate my job more.

Sandy

[Jimmy]

This is an interesting read

Is Flu Vaccine Causing Increase in H1N1 Outbreaks? 5 Year Old Boy Dies from H1N1 Virus, Even Though He Was Vaccinated Month Before

Could the Flu Vaccine Actually be Contributing to These Outbreaks?

During the 2008 – 2009 flu season when the H1N1 vaccine was introduced, Canadians were the first ones to observe that people who received the H1N1 flu vaccine seemed to be sicker than those who did not.

So some Canadian researchers decided to test the H1N1 vaccine against a placebo with ferrets. In their experiment, all the ferrets who received the vaccine were sicker (See: Study finds flu shot really did make people sicker).

Infectious diseases expert Professor Peter Collignon from Australia looked at the data in Canada and Hong Kong from the 2008 – 2009 flu season, and drew similar conclusions: ”What was a bit surprising when we looked at some of the data from Canada and Hong Kong in the last year is that people who have been vaccinated in 2008 with the seasonal or ordinary vaccine seemed to have twice the risk of getting swine flu compared to the people who hadn’t received that vaccine.” (Source.)

So researchers in Hong Kong decided to also study this issue and they conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled trial on children with the trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine. Their results were published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases in 2012, and they found that the seasonal trivalent flu vaccine resulted in 5.5 times more incidents of respiratory illness than the placebo group. See Heidi Stevenson’s excellent article on this study here.

But perhaps the most significant study of all involving H1N1 was a study conducted in the U.S. and published in 2013. Microbiologist Dr. Hana Golding of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at Bethesda in Maryland conducted a study on piglets vaccinated for H1N2, and then later exposed to H1N1. As Lin Edwards of Medical Xpress reports:

They vaccinated “naive” piglets (those that had never been exposed to flu viruses) against the H1N2 influenza strain and later exposed them to the rare H1N1 virus, which is the virus responsible for the 2009 swine flu pandemic.

When the piglets were vaccinated they produced a wide range of antibodies to block the H1N2 virus, but these “cross-reactive” antibodies not only failed to provide protection against the second virus, H1N1, but appeared to actually help the H1N1 virus infiltrate lung tissue and cause more severe symptoms and respiratory system complications such as pneumonia and lung damage. The unvaccinated controls suffered milder pneumonia and fewer other complications. (Source.)

So vaccinating for certain flu strains can actually cause the H1N1 virus to create even more severe complications, such as pneumonia and lung damage, which is exactly what we are seeing here in 2014 with the current H1N1 outbreaks.

Lots more in here:

http://healthimpactnews.com/2014/is-flu ... th-before/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Jayme]

I heard an interview on CBC last week and whoever it was stated since the outbreak in 2009, H1N1 has been the dominate strain since then. Also said that 2010 onward, it has been in the vaccine (2009 it was a separate shot). I got the H1N1 shot in 2009 and felt like shit for a week - not the flu I know, but still made me feel like crap. Other than that I've never gotten a flu shot and haven't had the flu in 10+ years. My dad gets the flu shot every year. All that said, in 2012 we both got full bore flu. If my information from the radio is correct, it likely was H1N1 and the shot did nothing for my dad, even though it was supposed to be covered.

I realize this is t scientific, but I damn well hate hate hate needles and based on my personal experience, it didn't make a lot of difference. I'm not hardcore against the vaccine, but I don't necessarily believe it's as great as advertised. My 2cents!


Sent from a rotary telephone using taps talk

[GuingesRock]

I wonder if the Brewnosers will get to the bottom of this one like they did the beer expo. It’s a tough one …might take a couple of years and lots more research. Might need to get detective X back on this case some time.

[mr x]

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/life/healt ... ice=mobile" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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[chalmers]

This article is titled "Researchers question Tamiflu's effectiveness in treating the flu"

As an FYI, the Cochrane study in question is not investigating the effectiveness of flu vaccines, rather an antiviral drug that is given to patients presenting with influenza. And even then, the study not without its critics: “This is old data in the wrong populations,” Dr. Smieja said. When influenza makes the rounds in hospitals and nursing homes, “these drugs are highly effective in curtailing that outbreak,” he said.

[GasMD30]

Get all vaccines! The guy who made the link between autism and vaccination was found to be a complete fraud!

[GuingesRock]

Flus shots are out again on the 20th. I'll get mine later on, maybe late November, so any protective affect hasn't declined by the time flue season comes. If I hear flu has arrived before then, I'll get it right away. Last year Influenza arrived in NS in Mid Decemeber.

[Jayme]

I'm strongly considering getting the flu shot this year regardless of my irrational needle fear... I've had it two years in a row now with a bought of pneumonia following it the second year... No good!

[sleepyjamie]

I hate needles too and somehow I managed to have over 100 hours of ink tattooed on me. But when I get a needle for shots I faint.


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[Jayme]

Haha a scratch versus full penetration perhaps?

[bluenose]

Haha a scratch versus full penetration perhaps?

must... resist... urge... to... troll...