Any News on a Vaccine Yet?

indigo girl · Jul 23, 2009

Mass health-worker absenteeism feared

Doctors and nurses' aversion to flu shots endangers plan to vaccinate them first so they are able to treat others

Hospital workers are supposed to be first in line for any pandemic influenza vaccine so they can keep Canadian hospitals running during an outbreak – but that strategy hinges on workers agreeing to take an unproven vaccine for an uncertain threat.
Across Canada, somewhere between 40 and 60 per cent of health-care workers opt for a flu shot each season, despite extensive efforts to persuade the entire work force to get immunized. In a normal flu season, that's not a major problem.
But in a serious outbreak of H1N1, the unwillingness of large numbers of doctors, nurses, paramedics and others could lead to soaring absenteeism rates, draining the health-care system of workers just as they are needed most. Faced with lesser risks, Canadian health officials have tried to make flu shots mandatory, but those efforts have typically failed, with the rights of the individual trumping any broader societal concern.
That may leave the state of Canada's health-care system dependent on voluntary efforts that have so far proven unable to spur health-care workers to get flu shots.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/mass-health-worker-absenteeism-feared/article1225296/

(hat tip PFI/marina)

indigo girl · Jul 23, 2009

More Flu Vaccine Woes

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jPDEE_BdufsSNIxDs5NN-W0GiWoQ

Another storm may be brewing for the coming flu season: A component of the seasonal flu shot may not be well matched to the circulating viruses, potentially setting up what's known as a vaccine mismatch.
Some samples of the emerging new strain of H3N2 viruses show a substantially reduced response to antibodies generated by the corresponding virus in the seasonal vaccine, raising the possibility of significantly reduced protection in some cases.
Vaccine mismatches are bad at the best of times. More people get sick during flu seasons with mismatches. But a seasonal flu vaccine mismatch coinciding with a flu pandemic? That is no one's idea of a good time.
The next month or so will give the world a clearer picture as to whether the pandemic virus will crowd out the previous influenza A subtypes - making the composition of the seasonal vaccine less relevant - or whether one or both of the seasonal flu A virus families will continue to circulate.
...if H3N2 sticks around, the coming weeks will also offer a sign as to whether this new variant is likely to complicate the upcoming Northern Hemisphere flu season.
...the WHO collaborating labs will be heightening surveillance for seasonal flu viruses in the lead-up to the WHO's strain selection meeting for the Southern Hemisphere seasonal vaccine, held in September.
One place they'll be checking is virus samples from nursing homes. H3N2 viruses prey on seniors and are behind many of the frequent flu outbreaks seen in long-term care facilities. For some reason, nursing home outbreaks are rarely caused by seasonal H1N1 viruses and so far the pandemic H1N1 has largely spared that population too.

(hat tip Avian Flu Diary)

Girl Scout · Jul 24, 2009

US: 160M doses of swine flu vaccine due in Oct.

Good article. Answers many questions, clears up some confusion. The only thing it doesn't make clear is whether or not the 160 million is actually counted in single doses, or actually means 80 million for both doses.

They're still having immense trouble even brewing the vaccine in the first place, although trials are getting started next month at Baylor and they expect to have some kind of results ready by the end of September. I never thought September could feel so far away.

They are trying all sorts of new things with this vaccine, to make more of it and get it to us faster, which doesn't exactly make me comfortable.

And sending some good thoughts/vibes/prayers/wishes for those who are volunteering for the trails might not be a bad thing...

indigo girl · Jul 26, 2009

No Shortage of Volunteers for Swine Flu Vaccine in Trials

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/07/25/swine.flu.vaccine.volunteers/index.html?iref=hpmostpop

Days after the U.S. government announced upcoming trials for an H1N1 flu vaccine, Saint Louis University has been inundated with phone calls and e-mails from people volunteering for the study.
Concern about the H1N1 virus grew after it spread quickly around the globe earlier this year.
The university's Center for Vaccine Development has received more than 500 responses from potential volunteers since Wednesday, when the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced human trials for a swine flu vaccine would begin in early August.
"This response has been exceptionally strong," Nancy Solomon, a spokeswoman for the university's medical center, told CNN Radio. "We haven't had that strong of a response to our call for volunteers since we conducted our small pox vaccine research after September 11."
Thousands of Americans are currently being recruited for swine flu vaccine testing at several research centers across the country, including Saint Louis University's Center for Vaccine Development.
"The federal government comes to us when they need a quick response to test the safety and efficacy of vaccines," Solomon said.
Other trial sites include the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore; Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia; Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, Washington; The University of Iowa in Iowa City; and Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
They will be joined by Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri; Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina; and IPS Research in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Most of the human trials are being funded by the National Institutes of Health.
In an effort to deliver the vaccine to those who will need it most by October, the clinical trials will enroll as many as 1,000 adults and children, according to officials at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a division of the NIH, which will lead the effort.

(hat tip PFI/pixie)

RuRnurse? · Jul 29, 2009

Developing the vaccine may not be the biggest problem, it's getting the people at risk to take it that will. A lot of us still remember the swine flu vaccine fiasco of the Ford administration, and the many cases of Guilliane-Barr that followed. I work with a lot of folks who NEVER take the vaccine, they still believe it will GIVE them the flu.

I had the flu once, just the typical seasonal flu, and I ain't going THERE again. But, it is a concern.

indigo girl · Jul 29, 2009

Developing the vaccine may not be the biggest problem, it's getting the people at risk to take it that will. A lot of us still remember the swine flu vaccine fiasco of the Ford administration, and the many cases of Guilliane-Barr that followed. I work with a lot of folks who NEVER take the vaccine, they still believe it will GIVE them the flu.
I had the flu once, just the typical seasonal flu, and I ain't going THERE again. But, it is a concern.

You are correct. We do all work with people who never take the vaccine. I think that the CDC is very much aware of how few of us get vaccinated every year.

We will see who steps up to the plate once the flu season gets started, and there is no vaccine available for most of the population yet. It will be a very difficult decision for many to be willing to get an untried vaccine.

If we do see a surge in cases as predicted, I suspect that many more will be willing than usual.

I wish us all the best of luck especially the ER nurses and staff.

indigo girl · Jul 30, 2009

the virus is beating us to the tape

http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/h5n1/2009/07/us-the-virus-is-beating-us-to-the-tape.html

most people will need two shots for swine flu, in addition to their annual flu shot. government officials have projected that 120 million doses of swine flu vaccine will be available by october, but a number of participants at the conference said they thought that was overly optimistic.
"i think the virus is beating us to the tape, and it will be the virus itself that will immunize us in the fall," said dr. william schaffner, a nonvoting member of the group and an infectious disease expert at vanderbilt university.
he said he feared a "double-barreled flu season," with many cases of swine flu in the fall and early winter, and then a seasonal outbreak starting later and peaking in february as it usually does.
i'm working on an article for the tyee that relates to this report: a very large minority of healthcare workers, from doctors to nurses to paramedics to floor-moppers, refuse to be vaccinated against influenza.
this is not a canadian or american problem. it's worldwide.

lamazeteacher · Jul 30, 2009

Haven't been following all these threads until recently. What is the news on a possible vaccine for H1N1 before the winter season hits? Please pardon me if this information has been already posted.
I normally forgo annual influenza immunizations due to the fact that A) I never contract the flu, and B) I have an autoimmune condition that may be exacerbated by immunizations.
After reading some of the information in this forum, especially the possible mutation of the virus into a deadlier form (like its eerie 1918 prototype), I will take this vaccine (if offered) and urge others in my family/ circle of influence to do so.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

I appreciate your leadership role in your vaccine recommendation, Vicky!! :nurse:

My daughter has an autoimmune condition, MS, and her neurologist has recommended flu vaccination for her, yearly. The other good news, is that the H1N1 vaccine isn't being made in eggs, so those allergic to eggs can take it safely + its production is much faster!

:twocents:

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2009

Here's something I have not seen addressed: What about getting the vaccine to student nurses and clinical faculty? We see that health care workers are priority for the new vaccine, but students/faculty in clinicals are never included in hospitals' employee vaccination events in my neck of the woods, only employees. Will colleges of nursing/medicine/pharmacy/etc. have access to vaccine stock for their clinical students and clinical faculty?

Anyone know of protocols/policies that address this?

indigo girl · Jul 30, 2009

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
I appreciate your leadership role in your vaccine recommendation, Vicky!!
My daughter has an autoimmune condition, MS, and her neurologist has recommended flu vaccination for her, yearly. The other good news, is that the H1N1 vaccine isn't being made in eggs, so those allergic to eggs can take it safely + its production is much faster!

Lamaze, I don't know about that. Most of it will be still be egg based. There are some companies that will be using the new cell technology but it is unclear if the US is ordering this. Though surely some could be made available for the folks with egg allergies...

Also we will need two shots for immunity from swine as well as one for the seasonal flu.

indigo girl · Jul 30, 2009

Here's something I have not seen addressed: What about getting the vaccine to student nurses and clinical faculty? We see that health care workers are priority for the new vaccine, but students/faculty in clinicals are never included in hospitals' employee vaccination events in my neck of the woods, only employees. Will colleges of nursing/medicine/pharmacy/etc. have access to vaccine stock for their clinical students and clinical faculty?
Anyone know of protocols/policies that address this?

We don't know, so ask your instructors.

I would hope so. We might need you.

With asthma, as a risk factor, you would be amongst the first to be vaccinated anyway, multi.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2009

We don't know, so ask your instructors.
I would hope so. We might need you.
With asthma, as a risk factor, you would be amongst the first to be vaccinated anyway, multi.

I did send an email and received no answer. Called the college office and was told faculty will not be responding to questions until next month, when the fall semester starts. Asked about the vaccine and was told to ask on the first day of class, in a month.

That's why I thought I'd 'fish' here where we have some nursing faculty, to see what they know/are doing at their schools. :coollook:

Indigo, I thought you might know from all your reading some basic facts about how distribution of the vaccine might proceed. Is it just based upon who chooses to buy vaccine and the honor system about risk factors? Or is HHS overseeing distribution by directing some vaccine supply directly to hospitals for their staff? Are county health departments in charge of distribution in their local areas? Anyone know?