Recently, the media has saturated the airwaves with news of the availability of a vaccination for the swine flu. Many have been waiting impatiently for this vaccine because they think that it is the most effective tool offered by the medical community to combat being added to the ever increasing number of people diagnosed with this pandemic.
On Monday, October 5, the swine flu vaccine became available in a nasal-spray formulation with the injectable form available in the coming week. Six hundred thousand FluMist doses were sent to health care facilities in 25 states and more than two million swine flu shots are being prepared for delivery to a health care center near you. The questions my patients are asking are, “Who should get the vaccine? Is it safe? How can I tell if I’m infected? What happens if I decide not to get the vaccine?”
The 2009 novel H1N1 influenza virus (more commonly called swine flu) that has currently infected our citizens has been, for the most part, mild to moderate, and – contrary to highly publicized news stories – is rarely fatal. This virus has moved fairly rapidly throughout the nation as it was first detected in April of 2009 in the U.S. and by June 11, 2009, was declared an international pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The swine flu mimics the seasonal flu, as signs and symptoms of the virus are very similar and include fever, headache, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, chills, and fatigue. Some individuals will experience vomiting and diarrhea. What makes it different from the seasonal flu is that this current strain is new and very few people have an immunity to it. The ease with which H1N1 spreads from person to person is what made it become a pandemic virus.
Despite the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s consistent efforts to educate the community on the importance of the flu and its safety, there are still many who are hesitant to take the vaccine once available. Groups that are at high risk for the swine flu include pregnant women, caretakers of children six months of age or younger, health care providers, young people ages six months to twenty four years of age, and individuals between the ages of twenty-five to sixty four with underlying medical conditions.
Although the virus is new to this generation, the same technology used to develop the seasonal flu vaccine each year is being used to develop the swine flu vaccine. People may not have known that each year the seasonal flu vaccine changes based on the strain of flu that is most prevalent in the community.
For those who decide not to take the vaccine, there are a few things that they can and must do to protect themselves: cover your mouth and nose with tissue when you sneeze or cough and throw the tissue away; wash hands with warm water and soap; use alcohol-based hand cleansers; avoid spreading germs by touching your eyes, mouth, or nose; avoid close contact with sick individuals.
You can also boost your immune system and increase protection by maintaining adequate Vitamin D levels, getting sufficient rest, and eating healthy and nutritious meals. Increasing fish oil, Vitamin C, and taking herbal supplements like Cordyceps and Astragalus throughout the flu season may also have some protective affects.
As the flu season approaches, we must be cognizant of our risk for both the swine flu and the seasonal flu. Fortunately, the swine flu has been stable and one dose of the vaccine offers good protection. It also appears to be safe to get both injections at the same time; however, if the seasonal flu vaccine is available to you, it is strongly recommended that you take that as soon as possible. We only have eight doses left in my office.