.....................

[C.Ann]

.................................

 

[mtomlin66]

Do you mind me asking what area you live in?

I, too, have been trying to decide whether to have DS and DD receive the vaccine. Initially I was leaning toward no. But, the more I read and think about it, I probably will.

I haven't heard of too many large outbreaks yet in my area. I'm in SE Pa.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I had just finally decided yesterday that I would go ahead and get my kids the vax, now that I saw this article, I may decide against it if they do add the adjuvant. I have really wrestled with this decision too, and was so pleased that my mind was made up but now....

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13555627?source=most_emailed&nclick_check=1

U.S. could potentially use controversial adjuvants in swine flu vaccine



BY LJ ANDERSON


Posted: 10/13/2009 08:09:34 PM PDT
Updated: 10/14/2009 01:13:45 PM PDT



The World Health Organization estimates that a worldwide production capacity of 3 billion doses of pandemic H1N1 vaccines will be used to prevent the outbreak and spread of the 2009 H1N1 flu, or "swine flu," as it is better known. This ambitious plan for widespread vaccine use, albeit inadequate for a total population of 6.8 billion people, has drawn criticism regarding the vaccine's safety, and the use and potential use of vaccine adjuvants.

In the alternative health community, chiropractor Ginger Mills, DC, of Redwood City, is concerned that adjuvants, especially squalene, will be added to vaccines used in the U.S., should the number of cases rise. "Squalene is an oil that is found in olives and in certain other foods, and is perfectly healthy when you ingest it — but when injected into the bloodstream, it can have adverse effects."

Adjuvants enhance or "supercharge" the immune response, reduce the number of vaccines needed, and allow supplies to last longer. Currently, aluminum salts are the only approved vaccine adjuvants for use in the United States. The use of adjuvants has been suspected, but not confirmed, in the development of illnesses in Gulf War veterans who may have received squalene-containing anthrax vaccines.

However, the current stock of U.S. swine flu vaccines does not contain adjuvants, according to Anne Schuchat, MD, in an informational video produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).



http://us.bc.yahoo.com/b?P=35bf7f62...TY3MjgzMDAzIiBzZXJ2ZUlkPSIzNWJmN2Y2Mi1iOTA4LT


Schuchat does acknowledge that there is an emergency provision to use them — should the pandemic accelerate.

Adjuvants are being used in swine flu vaccines in countries outside of the United States, including Canada, Europe and Australia. However, even though Canada is using an adjuvanted vaccine, it has also ordered 1.8 million doses of the unadjuvanted vaccine for use in pregnant women and children under the age of 3.

Maine physician Meryl Nass, MD, has written widely on the use of vaccines. "If novel adjuvants do get added (in the U.S.) — only if conditions change — it would preclude the quick licensure process that took place for the licensed H1N1 vaccines. Recipients would need to sign an informed consent for an experimental product," said Nass. "I do not believe they would be 'secretly' added."

The World Health Organization has tried to allay concerns about the vaccine and states that clinical trials suggest this vaccine is as safe as the seasonal influenza vaccines, and that most countries have vaccine monitoring systems in place. Without specifically addressing the use of adjuvants, WHO states that any vaccine side effects are expected to be of short-term duration, such as injection site soreness, swelling and redness, and possibly, headache, fever and muscle aches. However, WHO also has a disclaimer that "even very large clinical trials will not be able to identify possible rare events that can occur when pandemic vaccines are administered to many millions of people."

With a pivotal and profitable role played by the pharmaceutical industry in vaccine production, Nass suggests that there is a lack of "unconflicted data" available about adjuvants. "Nearly all of the MF59 (adjuvant) data were derived from the manufacturer of MF59, for example," said Nass. "It is more the lack of reliable data, and gives the impression that something is being hidden. Those of us who are familiar with the subject are concerned that if these adjuvants were used en masse, we would face some bad outcomes. The FDA has been sitting on them for 10 years, and usually, that means that the FDA is aware of significant problems."

Nass testified before Congress in 2001 that the FDA needed to make a decision on the safety of adjuvants, so manufacturers could know whether they could include them in vaccines or not. "It seems that the FDA and the manufacturers have been waiting for a pandemic to solve the problem for them," said Nass. "It was going to be avian flu — an adjuvanted vaccine for H5N1 avian flu was approved in many countries, but the disease never spread person to person. Then swine flu came along, and Glaxo and Novartis got another bite at the cherry. You see, once these adjuvants get into licensed products in the U.S., they will become part of all sorts of novel vaccines for cancer and non-infectious diseases, whose antigens are waiting in the wings."

The adjuvant question may not be answered in this pandemic go-round either. In the latest CDC FluView assessment of influenza activity in the United States, there is swine flu activity in 26 states — but many of the cases are mild and are not included in the count. The U.S. government has ordered 195 million vaccines that will be distributed through coordination with states and distribution centers.

While the official influenza season began Oct. 4, cases of swine flu appeared earlier — even in a number of pandemic experts themselves. And when it becomes personal, the use of a vaccine may seem like a good idea.

Author of "The Coming Plague," Laurie Garrett wrote in Newsweek about her September bout with swine flu, and described its symptoms as "days of semi-delirium, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, and stomach twisting."

Another pandemic expert and Google executive, Larry Brilliant, led the WHO team that was responsible for smallpox eradication in Southeast Asia and India. Brilliant, a physician and epidemiologist, is now president of the Skoll Urgent Threats Fund, and recently became one of the expected 100 million Americans to develop the swine flu.

"But while I was never sick enough to consider going to see my doctor or going to an ER, I would not wish this disease on anyone and I certainly would have preferred a vaccination to this teeth-rattling bug," wrote Brilliant on Huffington Post.

"Most poignantly, even though I tried to stay isolated, I infected one of my children who also spent a lousy sweat-soaked, teeth-chattering week dancing with the swine. No loving parent would ever want to spread this disease to his or her kids. If the sole reason to get vaccinated were to prevent my spreading this disease to my family and community, that alone would make getting vaccinated an easy choice for me."

 

[disney1990]

Sorry, the flu is hitting hard in your area. Get those shots asap -- you know it takes 2 weeks for them to becoming effective. And, if it is all around, it might be too late. Stay safe!

 

[golfgal]

Our school just notified everyone that we have over 5% of the population out with flu-like symptoms. It has hit the marching band VERY hard-they canceled practice tonight-3 days before the biggest competition of the season. They are asking kids to wear masks on the bus to practice tomorrow and on Friday to the competition. School is out in our state today and tomorrow so hopefully that will help!!

 

[C.Ann]

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[AshleyW]

Yikes! We have 2 ladies in our office who are out right now with the flu.. I'm just waiting for it to hit the rest of the office and spread like wildfire. I've noticed everyone around here has been loading up on hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes, so hopefully it won't be too bad.

 

[disney1990]

Duplicate

 

[disney1990]

Upstate NY - Albany tri-city area.. (Albany/Troy/Schenectady) The high school is in another town about 10 miles from Albany..

Oh my, our DD goes to school in Syracuse. She had a seasonal flu shot, but no H1N1 shot yet. She is waiting for school to get the vaccine. She is high risk - under 25 and has asthma.

 

[C.Ann]

...........................

 

[bethbuchall]

Oh my, our DD goes to school in Syracuse. She had a seasonal flu shot, but no H1N1 shot yet. She is waiting for school to get the vaccine.

My ds goes to school in Syracuse, too. The last time I talked to him he hadn't even been able to get the seasonal flu shot, because they were out every time he went. He doesn't have any risk factors other than being a young adult, though.

We're not that far from Albany here, so I hope it doesn't head our way. I'm still torn on the H1N1 for my kids (if I can even find some), and the peds office doesn't have enough of the seasonal.

 

[disney1990]

My ds goes to school in Syracuse, too. The last time I talked to him he hadn't even been able to get the seasonal flu shot, because they were out every time he went. He doesn't have any risk factors other than being a young adult, though.

We're not that far from Albany here, so I hope it doesn't head our way. I'm still torn on the H1N1 for my kids (if I can even find some), and the peds office doesn't have enough of the seasonal.

My daughter tried to go to the shot clinic that school had and they ran our of the shots before she got hers. But, she was at the clinic for something else and they saw on her paperwork that she has asthma. They apparently had some of the vaccine in the clinic and gave it to her then and there.

Last Seasonal Flu Shots Available at Health Services on Thursday, While Supplies Last

I just found this on the Syracuse University website. These are the last shots and they are being given tomorrow!!!!!!

Due to a national shortage of seasonal flu vaccine, Syracuse University Health Services is winding down its successful seasonal flu vaccination campaign. This series of vaccination clinics had a record turnout—3,600 students have been immunized—and took place earlier than in any previous years when the vaccine has been offered. Health Services will now offer the remaining limited supply of vaccine on Thursday, Oct. 15, at Health Services, 111 Waverly Ave., on a walk-in basis from 9 a.m.–noon and 1–4 p.m., while supplies last. As a result of the national shortage of seasonal flu vaccine, additional supplies are not guaranteed to SU.

For other opportunities to get the seasonal flu vaccine, visit the Onondaga County Health Department’s Schedule a Flu Shot website at https://www.onflu.net/onondaga/.

 

[4nana]

Sorry to hear it is closing in your area C.Ann, personally I think it's just the beginning of a long winter. Our schools are hard hit also. Two of our little grandsons were really sick - our 4yo was 103.5* sick for 5days, our 13 yo was sick for 10 days w/temps up to 105*. Thankfully they are both well now. Our local schools gave the flu nasal mist last week free to all those who wanted, so all our grands took advantage.

DH and I got our flu shots, he also got his pneumonia shot, we're now awaiting the H1N1 to be available. I know the H1NI has hit some soldiers, with sadly one losing his life , a perfectly healthy young man only 23yo. So we're not going to mess around, as we feel an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We also wash our hands a lot, even carry sanitizer in my purse, car, etc.

Everyone please take care, sneeze/cough in crook of arm, wash those hands, and take all necessary precautions.

 

[bethbuchall]

My daughter tried to go to the shot clinic that school had and they ran our of the shots before she got hers. But, she was at the clinic for something else and they saw on her paperwork that she has asthma. They apparently had some of the vaccine in the clinic and gave it to her then and there.

Last Seasonal Flu Shots Available at Health Services on Thursday, While Supplies Last

I just found this on the Syracuse University website. These are the last shots and they are being given tomorrow!!!!!!

Due to a national shortage of seasonal flu vaccine, Syracuse University Health Services is winding down its successful seasonal flu vaccination campaign. This series of vaccination clinics had a record turnout—3,600 students have been immunized—and took place earlier than in any previous years when the vaccine has been offered. Health Services will now offer the remaining limited supply of vaccine on Thursday, Oct. 15, at Health Services, 111 Waverly Ave., on a walk-in basis from 9 a.m.–noon and 1–4 p.m., while supplies last. As a result of the national shortage of seasonal flu vaccine, additional supplies are not guaranteed to SU.

For other opportunities to get the seasonal flu vaccine, visit the Onondaga County Health Department’s Schedule a Flu Shot website at https://www.onflu.net/onondaga/.

Thanks for the information! He is at SUNY-ESF, but I think that they use the SU clinic. I am pretty sure that was one of the additional fees we had to pay. I will call him tonight and tell him to try to get there as early as possible tomorrow.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I think if you could be among the first to get the vaccine, you could potentially avoid that possibility.. Didn't I read somewhere that they would only consider the adjuvants if there were a shortage of the vaccine or the virus changed? If I'm wrong about that, please feel free to correct me.. Like everyone else, I'm learning as I go along..

It's hard to keep the info straight when there's so much out there..

I'd love to be the first but from what it sounds like, they will be vaxxing people with pre-ex. conditions first. We'll see how they keep track of that or if they even do but I will be able to get dd7 in early with her history of severe asthma. From that article, it did sound like they will only add it if it gets more severe or if there is a shortage.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

I'd love to be the first but from what it sounds like, they will be vaxxing people with pre-ex. conditions first. We'll see how they keep track of that or if they even do but I will be able to get dd7 in early with her history of severe asthma. From that article, it did sound like they will only add it if it gets more severe or if there is a shortage.

Your 7 year old is priority with or without the asthma since the priority list includes all children. In our community (Nashville area), they had 4,900 mists available on Monday. They were offering them to health care workers first, but only 64 people showed up. They immediately opened it up to the general public. Yesterday and today, anyone who could take the mist could go and get one. I know the high risk people can't get the mist, but I am using this as an example to show that they are not going to sit on the vaccine. Yes, they do want it to go to high risk people first, but the ultimate goal is to get as many people vaccinated as possible in the shortest amount of time. Once the vaccine starts pouring in, which should be toward the end of this month, I think most people who want one will be able to get it. There really are a lot of people who are choosing to pass because they think it is untested. I, for one, will be getting it as soon as possible. I have been having asthma troubles for months, so I will be so relieved to get that shot!

 

[C.Ann]

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[daisyduck123]

I teach at a school with 625 students.

We had 99 students out on Monday (about 15% of our school population).

Tuesday we had 75-80 out.
Today we had 74 out.

I wish we would close until this is over with....but no such luck.

 

[maroo]

I teach at a school with 625 students.

We had 99 students out on Monday (about 15% of our school population).

Tuesday we had 75-80 out.
Today we had 74 out.

I wish we would close until this is over with....but no such luck.

Wow. Do you really hope they will close the schools?

I think I agree with you. As I have been following this and the schools are spreading it and kids are dying.

But I wonder what that would do to the rest of the communities? Closing the schools either means the kids all go to daycare (which defeats the purpose) or at least one parent stays home with them. Most families have both parents working. I know we can't function well with half of our staff at home taking care of kids. And if we can't function (medical field) then lives are also at stake.

Just a mess all around. Darned if you do and darned if you don't.

 

[C.Ann]

It's really a shame that the vaccine wasn't available sooner.. Now that it's becoming so widespread, many people will have already have been exposed - or will have had H1N1 - by the time the vaccine is readily available..