Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Updated: 10/27/2009
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Protect your children with the H1N1 vaccine
Many people are questioning the safety of the H1N1 influenza vaccine based on the perception that this is a new vaccine that was "rushed" to market.
In reality, the H1N1 vaccine is no more of a new vaccine than each year's production of seasonal vaccine. It has been produced using the exact same technique as that which has been used to produce seasonal influenza vaccine for many years.
The diluents (the liquid that carries the vaccine) and, for certain preparations, the preservative (the additional chemicals that help stabilize the vaccine) are identical to that which is in seasonal influenza vaccine.
This season's production of influenza vaccine ("seasonal vaccine") began before the appearance of the H1N1 ("swine") influenza virus that first infected humans in April 2009. If the H1N1 virus had appeared earlier, it is likely that the seasonal vaccine would have included this virus.
The influenza vaccine has been used to protect people for over 40 years and has a very good track record of safety.
Even so, as with every vaccine, there are side effects, some of which are serious. The most common side effects are minor, including pain, swelling or redness at the injection site.
Some people may feel mildly ill for a day or two but can usually carry on with their usual activities. The more serious side effects, which are rare (less than 1 percent) include nerve damage that can lead to partial or complete paralysis.
Most cases of nerve damage are reversible, but deaths can result from Guillain-Barre syndrome, a particularly bad form of nerve damage.
The initial studies of the H1N1 vaccine demonstrated that the side effects were similar to that of seasonal influenza vaccine. We will hear of individuals who develop "flu-like" symptoms after vaccination with H1N1 influenza vaccine. It is also likely that we will hear of people who develop more serious reactions to the H1N1 vaccine.
The decision to take a vaccine should remain a personal choice guided by an individual's responsibility to their family, their community and their self.
H1N1 influenza, like many other infectious diseases, is a serious illness that can cause major illness and death, particularly in children, young adults and pregnant women.
The benefits of vaccination, to both the individual and the community, clearly outweigh the risks.
As a parent of three young adults, one of whom lives in a college dormitory, I have serious concerns for their well-being in the face of this pandemic. I have strongly encouraged them to take the vaccine.
I, along with many of my colleagues, strongly encourage parents of our community to take the vaccine themselves and to protect their children by offering permission for the vaccination.
Charles Chodroff, M.D., is senior vice president and chief clinical officer for WellSpan Health and a practicing inter nal medicine physician.
http://yorkdispatch.inyork.com/yd/viewpoints/letters/ci_13650839
<!--secondary date-->
Protect your children with the H1N1 vaccine
Many people are questioning the safety of the H1N1 influenza vaccine based on the perception that this is a new vaccine that was "rushed" to market.
In reality, the H1N1 vaccine is no more of a new vaccine than each year's production of seasonal vaccine. It has been produced using the exact same technique as that which has been used to produce seasonal influenza vaccine for many years.
The diluents (the liquid that carries the vaccine) and, for certain preparations, the preservative (the additional chemicals that help stabilize the vaccine) are identical to that which is in seasonal influenza vaccine.
This season's production of influenza vaccine ("seasonal vaccine") began before the appearance of the H1N1 ("swine") influenza virus that first infected humans in April 2009. If the H1N1 virus had appeared earlier, it is likely that the seasonal vaccine would have included this virus.
The influenza vaccine has been used to protect people for over 40 years and has a very good track record of safety.
Even so, as with every vaccine, there are side effects, some of which are serious. The most common side effects are minor, including pain, swelling or redness at the injection site.
Some people may feel mildly ill for a day or two but can usually carry on with their usual activities. The more serious side effects, which are rare (less than 1 percent) include nerve damage that can lead to partial or complete paralysis.
Most cases of nerve damage are reversible, but deaths can result from Guillain-Barre syndrome, a particularly bad form of nerve damage.
The initial studies of the H1N1 vaccine demonstrated that the side effects were similar to that of seasonal influenza vaccine. We will hear of individuals who develop "flu-like" symptoms after vaccination with H1N1 influenza vaccine. It is also likely that we will hear of people who develop more serious reactions to the H1N1 vaccine.
The decision to take a vaccine should remain a personal choice guided by an individual's responsibility to their family, their community and their self.
H1N1 influenza, like many other infectious diseases, is a serious illness that can cause major illness and death, particularly in children, young adults and pregnant women.
The benefits of vaccination, to both the individual and the community, clearly outweigh the risks.
As a parent of three young adults, one of whom lives in a college dormitory, I have serious concerns for their well-being in the face of this pandemic. I have strongly encouraged them to take the vaccine.
I, along with many of my colleagues, strongly encourage parents of our community to take the vaccine themselves and to protect their children by offering permission for the vaccination.
Charles Chodroff, M.D., is senior vice president and chief clinical officer for WellSpan Health and a practicing inter nal medicine physician.
http://yorkdispatch.inyork.com/yd/viewpoints/letters/ci_13650839