Swine '09

Swine flu. Two words circulating around the world, along with the virus that these two words are the common name for. What is it, how is it contracted, how easily is it spread. Over the past few months, we have all been witnesses to this new strain of the flu, the H1N1 virus, and it's effects on people throughout the world. But now, approaching fall, the vaccine for preventative care of swine flu is beginning to become available. There are many questions that still remain about the vaccination, however, the most pressing being "Should I get it?". There are obviously both pros and cons to receiving the swine flu vaccination. On the one hand, nobody wants to be sick with the flu. The H1N1 virus requires it's own vaccination separate from the normal flu shot, it being a completely different strand. According to the CDC, doctors are reporting increased visits nationally for flu-like illnesses. The number of visits is much higher than what is predicted for this time period, and in addition, an extremely high proportion of these cases have turned out to be the H1N1 virus that is similar to the strand used in the vaccination. So, on paper, it seems as if people should get the shot, if possible. However, one can't help but wonder, what are the long term effects? The H1N1 vaccination is extremely new, and there is no exact way to tell what the effects of it will be in the long-run. Yes, for the time being, it may help you prevent yourself from contracting swine flu, but, by taking preventative measures, it is possible to prevent swine flu without the vaccination, and also prevent long-term risks that may be associated with the vaccine. The FDA reports that the side effects are expected to maintain similar characteristics to those of the seasonal flu vaccine, potentially including fatigue, body aches, and mild fever. However, it should be noted that the FDA is the agency that approves the vaccination, and therefore, obviously will support it in any way. When the vaccine begins to come out in October, only a limited number of shots will be available. Eventually, more and more will be supplied, but for the time being, only specified, targeted groups of people will be able to receive the shot. The CDC has identified these people as "pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, and people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at a higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems." I definitely agree that healthcare and emergency medical services personnel should be prioritized in receiving the vaccination. If these people get sick, then there will be fewer people to care for others who get sick, and as a result, the untreated virus will spread faster and faster. However, according to a study conducted by Jan Medlock at Clemson University and Alison Galvani of Yale University School of Medicine, a mathematical model showed that by removing children ages 5-19 and adults ages 30-39 from the chain of transmission of swine flu, then the rate at which the virus spreads slows down significantly. Although these two groups of people may not be the most susceptible on paper, children ages 5-19 are most likely to catch the disease quickly and spread it quickly in the school environment, and then bring it home to their parents and spread it around the house. Thus, I think that when the shot first comes out and dosages are limited, these two groups in addition to healthcare personnel should be prioritized in receiving the vaccination.

References

2009 H1N1 flu. (2009). Retrieved September/15, 2009, from www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/

FDA 2009 H1N1 (swine) flu page. (2009). Retrieved 09/15, 2009, from http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm150305.htm

Walsh, B. (2009, August 21, 2009). Who should get swine flu shots first? Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1917707,00.html