New evidence suggestions H1N1 vaccine will be as effective as seasonal flu vaccine

November 8, 2:18 PMSanta Cruz Parenting ExaminerSuki Wessling

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Santa Cruz Parenting Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

H1N1 vaccinations in Boise, Idaho (Photo: Kenneth Freeman)

Early results from studies of children receiving this year's H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine show that resistance to the virus becomes effective within ten days of vaccination.

This result shows that the H1N1 vaccine is performing, as expected, just like the seasonal flu vaccine which is given to millions of Americans every fall.

Public uneasiness with the vaccine seems to center around the idea that this vaccine is "untested." However, scientists point out that this year's H1N1 vaccine is made exactly like every other flu vaccine, and that flu vaccines have been shown safe and effective for many years in studies of huge populations who received the vaccines.

Because of the public anxiety over this vaccine, public health officials are giving unprecedented attention to this year's vaccine, with a special program to follow and record any adverse effects amongst the millions of children receiving the vaccine.

The study followed children aged 10 to 17, who showed results similar to the many adult tests of flu vaccines. Younger children are showing to form less resistance from one dose of vaccine, and parents are therefore being advised to bring young children in for a booster one month after the original dose.

Groups with official-sounding names like the Health Sciences Institute (which sells information about herbal remedies purporting to cure influenza) and the National Vaccine Information Center (which promotes the debunked theory that vaccines cause autism) use scare tactics and distortions to convince parents not to vaccinate their children.

The Centers for Disease Control offers clear, scientifically validated information on the safety and side effects of vaccines, including this year's H1N1 flu vaccine. Concerned parents should also speak to their family doctor about the safety of vaccines and vaccine options for their children.