It’s time to start thinking about influenza vaccines. I’ve called some of the local clinics, and they generally start giving shots on or around October 1st.
I know there are a lot of arguments against getting the flu vaccine. They range from “… they don’t work…” to “…the last time I got a flu vaccine, I caught the flu…” To be honest, these arguments are pretty weak. Most of us who get a flu shot take the standard vaccine, which consists of a dead virus. The shot is given in the arm, and the worst effect most people feel is a sharp stick, and maybe some soreness for a day or so after the shot. The argument against the effectiveness can sometimes be valid. In order to have vaccine available prior to flu season, researchers must try to forecast the strains of influenza that will be circulating. This forecast amounts to an educated guess. Most of the time, they get it right, and match the vaccine to either the exact strains, or a closely related strain, so the vaccine is effective.
There are some who should not get the flu vaccine. These include people who are allergic to chicken eggs, under 6 months of age, currently ill, or a few other excluded people. I would encourage everyone to read the key facts page at the Center for Disease Control. Complications from influenza kill more often than people realize, and although it is a “common” disease, it shouldn’t be dismissed.
A possible approach to combating bird flu
Some researchers recently discovered that they may be able to broaden the effectiveness of the flu vaccine by adding protein fragments to the vaccine. The topic is discussed in this article in ScienceDaily. In the study, the effectiveness of the flu vaccine was broadened by adding protein fragments of influenza A and a strain of H5N1. H5N1 is the “bird flu” that has so many people concerned about a possible pandemic outbreak. Authors postulate that it may be possible to generate improved resistance to the bird flu and related influenza viruses.
