Vaccination Discussion: Free-for-all....

[Laidback Al]

I started this thread because I am discouraged about the hijacking of threads relating to H1N1 vaccination while we are in the middle of a pandemic. I am an ancillary member here at allnurses.com. I am not a HCW and have only about 100 posts here. And I certainly "don't have a dog in this fight". They are several threads where the discussion relating to pandemic vaccination has drifted or been purposively diverted. I started this thread so that people can vent about vaccinations in general, and H1N1 in particular.

Below I present some self-obvious assumptions about vaccinations. Please be mindful of these assumptions when you respond.

1. Everybody should be allowed to make their own choices about whether to receive vaccinations for themselves or their families or not as they choose.

2. Employers are running businesses. They can dictate rules about vaccination as they like. If you don't like the rules, quit the job and find another.

3. Vaccinations for various infectious diseases are known to reduce the morbidity and mortality from these diseases.

4. The current production and distribution mechanism for the novel H1N1 vaccine is identical to the trivalent influenza vaccine that has been distributed worldwide with minimal health risks for years. Only the strain of the virus has been changed.

5. Thimerasol is not present in all vaccines offer to the public.

6. Not all vaccines contain an adjuvant.

Let the discussions begin.

[indigo girl]

How can you say it is a person's choice then say that if they do not like the fact that their employers are MAKING THEM get a vaccination then they can quit...?

I am getting the vaccination because I want it, I have faith in vaccinations; for the most part. I am a little skeptical with the N1H1 being that it is still new, but I learned enough in Micro years ago that I keep up on my vaccinations, even ones that are not required. What I do not find cool is that health care agencies are requiring us to get them while the public is not and is more likely to infect our patients when visiting than we do. We have good immune systems do to all the things we are exposed to and use standard and isolation precautions. How many times have you seen a visitor go into a isolation room without even gowning up or washing their hands? I bet you more times not.

I don't think that any of us are happy that this vaccine is being mandated.

As for the swine vaccine being new, the only thing new about it is the strain of virus. Each year the influenza experts look at whether or not they need to change the strains to protect us based on what is circulating months in advance of our flu season.

The swine flu vaccine has been adequately tested.

All of the testing for this vaccine was the same as for every year's STRAIN CHANGE. Limited Clinical trials on several hundred people are conducted to determine dose efficacy. EXCEPT . . . additional testing has/is being conducted this year on Pregnant women, Children with Asthma, and people with HIV which is above and beyond normal Flu vaccine testing.

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsro.../ucm182399.htm

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that it has approved four vaccines against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The vaccines will be distributed nationally after the initial lots become available, which is expected within the next four weeks.

”The H1N1 vaccines approved today undergo the same rigorous FDA manufacturing oversight, product quality testing and lot release procedures that apply to seasonal influenza vaccines,” said Jesse Goodman, M.D., FDA acting chief scientist.

We can expect that the pandemic virus will replace at least one of the seasonal strains of viruses. Therefore, it will be part of the seasonal influenza vaccine for the southern hemisphere during their regular flu season, and ours next fall as well.

http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/activities/sciadvice/Lists/ECDC%20Reviews/ECDC_DispForm.aspx?List=512ff74f%2D77d4%2D4ad8%2Db6d6%2Dbf0f23083f30&ID=666&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fecdc%2Eeuropa%2Eeu%2Fen%2Factivities%2Fsciadvice%2FLists%2FECDC%2520Reviews%2FAllItems%2Easpx

Right now the southern hemisphere as welll as the northern has to deal with this virus that is killing kids, pregnant women and young adults. Some of these people had no prior exisitng health problems but they are now dead from flu despite being infected in the summer here in the north. Obviously these are not normal times, and this is not a normal virus. This virus unlike seasonal flu has a propensity for infecting deep lung tissue. And, no one has any immunity to it.

[Laidback Al]

. . . the public is . . . more likely to infect our patients when visiting than we do. . . . How many times have you seen a visitor go into a isolation room without even gowning up or washing their hands? I bet you more times not.

I believe some ICUs and hospital are now restricting visitors, especially children and teenagers under 14-18 years old. I do agree that if there are strong concerns about transmission of infections within a hospital setting, then visitors should be held to the same hygiene and protection standards as the staff.

[indigo girl]

http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/guidance/control_measures_qa.htm

Q. How can healthcare facilities limit movement of visitors?

Visitors who have been in contact with the patient before and during hospitalization are a possible source of influenza for other patients, visitors, and staff. Healthcare facilities may wish to limit visitors to persons who are necessary for the patient's emotional well-being and care. Visitors should be screened for symptoms of acute respiratory illness before entering the hospital. Visitors should be instructed to limit their movement within the facility. Before entering the patient's room, healthcare personnel should instruct visitors on hand hygiene, limiting surfaces touched, and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) according to current facility policy while in the patient's room.