<p>Some BS are planning to administer the H1N1 vaccine in addition to the usual annual flu vaccine. I somewhat hesitant about my child having an untested, fast-tracked vaccine. What are your thoughts??</p>
<p>Creative 1-I have the same concern and decided against consenting to my d receiving the H1N1 vaccine. I want to see what side affects, if any, are reported before I consent. I am comfortable with her getting the vaccine in November instead of October.</p>
<p>We will defer, as well.</p>
<p>My son received the “traditional” vaccine last week via school’s Health Services. H1N1 is another matter. There’s been a tremendous flurry of “information” over the weekend, leaving me even more confused and uneasy than before. I’m busy formulating a virtual study contingency plan in the event of widespread school closure. Oh my…</p>
<p>You might want to talk to your doctor if you are unsure what to do about the vaccine. As for my family, the sooner we can get the vaccine, the better. I just hope we can get it soon enough to stay well (my kids and husband, a prof, will be eligible before I am). Hotchkiss already has quite a few cases of presumed H1N1 under quarantine in their rooms, and it seems like this is going to be everywhere. </p>
<p>Below is from an interview with Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research at the World Health Organization (WHO), which is relevant to the op’s question about how the vaccine is tested. </p>
<p>Q: These must be the fastest vaccines ever produced. Given their fast-tracking, what is the guarantee of safety and efficacy?</p>
<p>A: The testing of influenza vaccines is different from that of other vaccines, because the rabies and measles vaccines for example do not change. Since influenza viruses evolve constantly, it is impossible to carry out a complete clinical analysis of seasonal influenza vaccines yearly because the composition changes each year to adapt to the virus and so you are always a year behind. A complete clinical evaluation is not needed also because manufacturers produce seasonal influenza vaccines using the same procedure and equipment, but for a different virus each year. In the USA, vaccines for seasonal influenza are licensed without clinical trials on the basis of a “strain change”. The US regulatory authorities consider the change from seasonal to pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine production (using the same procedure) as a change in the strain and therefore will not request clinical trials before registration. Having said that, all manufacturers will perform clinical trials to find out whether one or two doses are necessary, to test it in special populations and to administer it jointly with other vaccines. In Europe, a strain change is accompanied by a small clinical trial requested by the European Medicines Agency. In the last couple of years, manufacturers in the European Union registered “mock-up” or prototype H5N1 bird flu vaccines as nobody knows which H5N1 strain might become a pandemic strain. Manufacturers made clinical batches of an H5N1 vaccine with virus stocks from China, Indonesia and Viet Nam. They carried out clinical trials and submitted the results to the regulatory authorities who said the vaccines were fine. They are not allowed to sell H5N1 vaccines, since there is no H5N1 pandemic, but they can use the same procedure to make H1N1 pandemic vaccine. That way they can get a licence in a few days. This is another way vaccines can be licensed without clinical trials, while still ensuring safety on the basis of what is known about influenza vaccines. Based on the extensive knowledge available on seasonal vaccines and the results obtained through evaluation of H5N1 avian influenza vaccines, there is no doubt that it will be possible to make effective H1N1 pandemic vaccines.</p>
<p>I am very concerned about the athletic season for these schools. For recruitable kids who are juniors, it could really cause problems if some of the schools decide to close. I don’t think our school will close as they took a moderate stance last year and correspondence from them has indicated a similar position this year. But…you can’t play other schools if they are closed.</p>
<p>The H1N1 Vacc won’t be available to us until the end of October, early November at the earliest. We will be able to see what effects it has on others before it gets to our children. I gave permission for my S to get the Regular Flu vaccine , but I am holding out on the H1N1 until A. it becomes available, B. until we see the effects on others.</p>
<p>[The</a> Associated Press: Study: New drug fights flu as well as Tamiflu does](<a href=“http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iiUJb_ax75nQUqaywAJH4bGDJGoAD9AMLVJ80]The”>http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iiUJb_ax75nQUqaywAJH4bGDJGoAD9AMLVJ80)</p>
<p>Who should get the Regular Flu Vaccine</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/09/14/health/AP-US-MED-Swine-Flu-Which-Shot.html?_r=1[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/09/14/health/AP-US-MED-Swine-Flu-Which-Shot.html?_r=1</a></p>
<p>H1N1 already hitting campus supposedly. Vaccine may very well be a moot point by the time it is available.</p>
<p>H1N1 will have a Phase 2 and then probably a Phase 3 as all pandemics do . At the moment the H1N1 circulating in NE is relatively benign. This could change at any time and a healthy/tested H1N1 vaccine could help.</p>
<p>News from India :
[Hospitals</a> let H1N1 flu patients die - Hyderabad - City - NEWS - The Times of India](<a href=“http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/hyderabad/Hospitals-let-H1N1-flu-patients-die/articleshow/5012189.cms]Hospitals”>Hospitals let H1N1 flu patients die | Hyderabad News - Times of India)</p>
<p>Wow-I’m glad we don’t live in India right now. That’s a little scary.</p>
<p>Last night, I spoke to my son at Hotchkiss. He told me that there were about 30 to 40 kids already quarantined to their rooms with the swine flu. He said that some entire dorm floors were under quarantine. I’m sure that the flu epidemic will only get worse at Hotchkiss (and my son will be one of its victims). What a wonderful way to start a school year!</p>
<p>The death rate from the pandemic H1N1 swine flu is likely lower than earlier estimates, an expert in infectious diseases said on Wednesday. New estimates suggest that the death rate compares to a moderate year of seasonal influenza, said Dr Marc Lipsitch of Harvard University. “It’s mildest in kids. That’s one of the really good pieces of news in this pandemic,” Lipsitch told a meeting of flu experts being held by the U.S. Institute of Medicine. [Swine</a> flu death rate similar to seasonal flu: expert | Health | Reuters](<a href=“http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE58E6NZ20090916?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews]Swine”>http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE58E6NZ20090916?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews)</p>
<p>toombs61 - what are they doing about schoolwork for quarantined kids?</p>
<p>Phase 1 of H1N1 isn’t anything to worry about folks:)</p>
<p>[YouTube</a> - Bruce Springsteen - Jungleland (Live in New York 2001)](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGU0z1DGO8E]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGU0z1DGO8E)</p>
<p>Seems to be an incredibly short incubation period.</p>
<p>1) The first “vaccine” to come out will be live virus via a nasal mist. The shot (dead virus) will not come out for several more months (debatable whether this season).</p>
<p>2) Should you get the vaccine. Positive: Will probably keep kids in school more rather than be home sick. Negative: Will not provide “life-long” immunity. Adults probably don’t need to be vaccinated as they have already “seen” the virus in the past. More and more ID docs are suggesting a passive approach to the flu. eg: "Michael Olesen, chief of infection control at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis and a flu pandemics expert, said he was not planning to seek out infection but was taking a passive approach to getting infected. Now Im thinking of taking my chances … I think to myself, yeah, Ill be miserable for a week but thatll beat maybe being seriously sick later.</p>
<p>We have learned that the US Strain is not severe, that there is not enough Tamaflu for even severe cases, that getting the flu protects you while the vaccine is temporary.</p>
<p>BUT, there are those who should definately get the vaccine. The CDC recommends it especially for those who are most likely to suffer complications and die of the infection.</p>
<p>Last year, most private schools “closed” if they had a child with documented swine flu. Now they are not. Keeping the kids separate just as they do chicken pox, etc.</p>
<p>Personally, I don’t believe I will have my kids get the myst. I would prefer taking Dr. Olesen’s approach. Maybe the shot.</p>
<p>Wow now I’m glad I already got the swine flu. Immunity! :)</p>
<p>I heard the disease morphs from victim to helpless victim… (scary music)</p>
<p>1979 Swine Flu Expose by 60 Minutes/Mike Wallace </p>
<p>[Video:</a> Swine Flu 1976 & Propaganda - The Devastation, The Victims Who Took The Shots Back In 1976 - “WARNING” “WARNING” - 16 Min | Love for Life](<a href=“http://loveforlife.com.au/node/%206636]Video:”>http://loveforlife.com.au/node/%206636)</p>