Healthy pregnant women mount a robust immune response following just one dose of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine, according to initial results from an ongoing clinical trial.
When the debates are raging on the efficacy of the H1N1 vaccine, this news should bring some credibility to the vaccination program. There are claims and counter claims over the sideeffects of the vaccine. But to prove that a vaccine is clinically unfit it should be proved as such scientifically I think.
It is still too early to say that the vaccine is a complete success, as also discarding it outright is not the solution to the problem. We need to tread cautiously and follow the best advice of the Research community.
China on Thursday granted approval to its first home-grown swine flu vaccine, which producer Sinovac says is effective after only one dose, as the country braces for a feared winter outbreak.
European version of vaccine produced by the UK Pharmaceutical companies such as Glaxo, is a two doses based vaccine, and there are special guidelines for children below three years in some countries.
With India too gearing up in the vaccine campaign, initially the Government of India is planning to administer first vaccine shots of about 2 million doses to the doctors and health care workers, and other important service sector employees involved in battling the virus and who are at a higher risk of contracting the virus.
The main concern of the complete vaccination scenario is not enough time has been spent studying the after effects of the vaccine, but recent reports indicated that there have been no complications as of yet. But it is still hard to say about the total effectiveness of the Flu shot, as it is a battle against time with the onset of flu season in most parts of the world.
H1N1 is mesmerizing around the world, but some reports are encouraging as there are reported to be no side effects as of yet and the immunization program in the US, clinical trials on Adults has begun on Aug 7 and on children on Wednesday. Later on the shots will be tested on pregnant women too, large swathes of population has been effected by the flu, at least 550 deaths in US is reported to be from the Virus, but the real number is definitely higher, the flu is expected to peak when the winter sets in and schools are specially advised to keep the sick children out and make the healthier ones wash their hands regularly.
Though some strains of the flu were found in two Turkey's, doctors said that is not a cause for worry as it is not lethal and there were no adverse effects in the birds, H5N1, bird flu was lethal and made the culling important.
Many countries in southern hemisphere are bracing for the winter season as it results in a normal flu season due to colder and drier temperatures, people are advised to stay clean and eat a healthy diet and there is no need to be worried. Hopefully the new shot will soon provide the desired results and could be efficient as far as the results indicate. But it is too short a period for any clinical trial of a vaccine to be commended secure with no side effects.
