| Are the new H1N1 vaccines safe? Unfortunately only | | | | the manufacturing process, they often come with |
| time will tell. There are a number of manufacturers | | | | other harmful elements like mercury and nickel. So |
| around the world racing to cash in on a huge windfall | | | | really there is always a risk of becoming ill from the |
| caused by the pandemic. Those vaccines that the | | | | shot. |
| federal government has purchased, $8.5 billion worth, | | | | The question then becomes, what happens if I don't |
| were allowed to be fast tracked thanks to a law | | | | get a vaccination. Well if you're planning a trip to the |
| that was passed shortly after the September 11 | | | | Jungles of South America in the summer, you're going |
| attack to allow a quick development of anthrax | | | | to want to get a yellow fever shot because the |
| vaccine. | | | | consequences of not taking it may mean you die. |
| Basically fast tracking shortens the clinical trial process | | | | So far, H1N1 has presented itself as a fairly mild |
| both in terms of time and size. Novartis, a principal | | | | disease, not much different than seasonal flu. What |
| supplier to Europe, tested their vaccine on 60 middle | | | | makes it scary is how rapidly it has spread and the |
| aged people even though the targets of this flu are | | | | enormous amount of publicity it gets. You really can't |
| babies to young adults. Other manufacturers have | | | | compare mortality rates with seasonal flu because |
| tested on groups averaging 100. | | | | nobody really knows how many cases there have |
| There's an obvious reason for the fast tracking. | | | | actually been. However, from the data that was |
| Vaccines are grown and it is a time consuming | | | | gathered on known cases, death rates were similar |
| process. Unfortunately, we only had about 9 months | | | | to seasonal flu. |
| from the time H1N1 was first identified to the time it | | | | The question then becomes, do I risk taking a new |
| came as a second wave. As a result, we have a | | | | vaccine that has had limited testing to avoid a flu |
| vaccine, at least in limited supply that is not as well | | | | that apparently is more contagious but no more |
| documented and tested as our other vaccines. | | | | harmful than seasonal flu? |
| But the real question about vaccine safety is one of | | | | The answer is up to you. Best have a good plan on |
| risk and benefit and it applies to every kind of shot. | | | | how to manage this flu season and be ready for the |
| Vaccines are essentially a muted form of the disease | | | | challenges it surely will bring. |
| we are trying to protect ourselves from. Because of | | | | |